Philippine Navy commissions 2 fast attack interdiction craft from Israel

The Philippine Navy has commissioned two new fast attack interdiction craft during a ceremony at Naval Station Jose Andrada in Manila on Monday.

Navy chief Rear Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. said BRP Nestor Acero (PG901) and BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG902) may be deployed to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and southern Philippines areas.

“We are still discussing where they shall be deployed but most likely priority areas are, of course, in the WPS and southern Philippines, but we have no final decision yet as to the exact place of deployment,” he said in a media interview.

In his speech during commissioning and send-off ceremony, Adaci said the two fast attack interdiction craft will be used to address threats in Philippine waters.

“The two new fast attack interdiction crafts that we are commissioning today are specially designed to equip the Navy's capability in addressing threats within this complex and unique archipelagic condition in a precise and swift manner," he said.

The commissioning and send-off ceremony was led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

According to Adaci, BRP Nestor Acero and PG902 are only two of the nine fast attack interdiction craft missile vessels acquired from Israel Shipyards Limited for the price of P10 billion under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

Adaci said four other vessels will be delivered in 2023 and the remaining three will be constructed at the naval shipyard in the country in 2024.

Aside from these nine vessels, Adaci said the Navy is planning to have 15 additional Acero class boats. —KBK, GMA Integrated News