Philippines Inducts Israeli Air Defense System to Bolster Coastal Defense
The Philippine Air Force inducted the Spyder air defense system on Tuesday along with a Spanish C-295 MW medium-lift helicopter.
The air force selected the Israeli defense firm Rafael in 2018 to supply three Spyder batteries for $141 million under the ground-based air defense system acquisition project.
The project seeks to bolster the country’s coastal defenses, particularly at locations facing the West Philippine Sea.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. congratulated the Philippine Air Force (PAF) during the blessing of the newly-acquired Ground-Based Air Defense Systems and the C-295 Medium Lift Aircraft in Basa Air Base in Pampanga yesterday, November 8. pic.twitter.com/oGYVBD6Nd2
— Office of the President (@opgovph) November 9, 2022
Operator Training Began in 2021
The service began training system operators with a Spyder simulator at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, in early 2021.
The training focuses on developing three distinct capabilities of “detection through radar, command, and control, and missile firing.”
Features
The medium-range surface-to-air mobile air and missile defense system comprises radar, a command and control unit, and Python 5 and I-Derby missiles with an estimated range of 50 kilometers (31 miles).
The system is designed to protect critical installations from aerial threats such as “combat aircraft, attack helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, incoming missiles, guided munition, and rockets.”
The contract includes a missile maintenance facility that will be built in the Philippines.
