Acero-class gunboat explained

The Acero class is a class of patrol gunboats based on the Israel Shaldag V design that are in service with the Philippine Navy.

History

In 2019, the Philippine Navy raised a requirement to procure a new class of Fast Attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC) that would be missile-capable and are based on Israel's Shaldag V patrol boat design, to replace the fast attack crafts that have been retired in service.[1] [2]

Israel Shipyards Ltd. had offered the Shaldag V design to the Philippine Navy as early as 2016.[3] Funding to pursue the proposal was not available until a few years afterwards.[1]

The Israeli design was proven to be more capable as an interdiction craft than the smaller Multi-Purpose Attack Craft that were originally designed by a Taiwanese shipbuilder as a troop insertion assault boat, and modified in Philippine Navy service to be used as a small missile boat. Thus, when the Philippine Navy raised the requirement for a fast attack interdiction craft, the Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND) made a decision to procure them based on the Israeli proposal, and would be acquired under a Government-to-Government (G2G) deal with Israel.[1] [4]

A contract was signed between the (DND), Israel Shipyards Ltd. and Israeli Ministry of Defense in February 2021, with the Notice to Proceed to start the effectivity of the contract released in April 2021.[1] [5]

The first boat of the class, the (PG-901), was launched in June 2022, and became the basis for the class' name.[6] The hull number's use of "PG" indicates that the boats are classified as Patrol Gunboats based on Philippine Navy's 2016 naming classification standards.

In November 2022, Rear Admiral Toribio Acaci indicated that the service plans to acquire a total of 15 more Acero-class / Shaldag Mk. V patrol gunboats in the near future.[1] [7] [8]

Two more Acero-class gunboats were delivered on 11 April 2023, christened on 8 May 2023.[9] [10] and commissioned on 26 May 2023.

The Philippine Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command announced the revival of their naval shipbuilding capability with the reopening of the Naval Shipbuilding Center, previously called the Cavite Naval Yard, which was refurbished and retooled as part Israel Shipyard's contract to supply fast attack interdiction crafts to the Philippine Navy. The new facility will take over production of the remaining units of the Acero class (Shaldag Mk. V) that were ordered by the DND under the FAIC-M Acquisition Project, and will likely do so for any future orders.[11]

On 12 April 2024, a field test was conducted where a Spike missile was fired in the waters of Mariveles, Bataan.[12]

On 8 May 2024, BRP Lawrence Narag participated in the maritime strike exercise of Balikatan 2024, which consisted of a sinking exercises (SINKEX) using the decommissioned as a target ship. The Lawrence Narag fired a Spike-NLOS missile and successfully hit the target during the exercise.[13] On 18 June, Lawrence Narag was assigned to Naval Forces Western Mindanao and deployed to Zamboanga City.[14]

Technical details

The ship class is designed to carry one bow-mounted Mk.44 Bushmaster II autocannon mounted on Rafael Typhoon Mk 30-C remote-controlled weapon station, and two M2HB Browning 12.7 mm/50-caliber heavy machine guns mounted on Rafael Mini Typhoon remote-controlled weapon stations.

At least four of the ships will be installed with a Rafael Typhoon MLS-NLOS missile launcher for Spike-NLOS surface-to-surface missiles. All other boats are fitted for, but not with the system, and can be installed separately at any time.

A 5.2-meter rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) is stowed in the aft for those without the missile system, and is deployed using a 1,000-kilogram crane.

Ships in class

Bow numberShip nameLaunchedDeliveredCommissionedServiceStatusNotes
PG-901BRP Nestor Acero26 June 20226 September 202228 November 2022[15] Littoral Combat Force, Philippine FleetActive
PG-902BRP Lolinato To-Ong26 June 20226 September 202228 November 2022Littoral Combat Force, Philippine FleetActive
PG-903BRP Gener Tinangag11 April 2023[16] 26 May 2023[17] Littoral Combat Force, Philippine FleetActive
PG-905BRP Domingo Deluana11 April 202326 May 2023Littoral Combat Force, Philippine FleetActive
PG-906BRP Herminigildo Yurong[18] 18 November 2023[19] 21 May 2024[20] Littoral Combat Force, Philippine FleetActiveArmed with Spike-NLOS
PG-907BRP Laurence Narag18 November 202321 May 2024Littoral Combat Force, Philippine FleetActiveArmed with Spike-NLOS
PG-908BRP Tomas Campo[21] 17 September 2024[22] Littoral Combat Force, Philippine FleetActiveArmed with Spike-NLOS
PG-909BRP Albert Majini[23] 17 September 2024Littoral Combat Force, Philippine FleetActiveArmed with Spike-NLOS
PG-910On-going construction at Naval Shipbuilding Center CaviteArmed with Spike-NLOS

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fast Attack Interdiction Craft - Missile (FAIC-M) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy . Philippine Defense Resource . 2019-06-19 . 2022-12-23.
  2. Web site: 27 December 2022 . Philippine Navy commissions two Shaldag Mk V attack craft . live . https://archive.today/20230803125217/https://www.imdexasia.com/newsbyte/philippine-navy-commissions-two-shaldag-mk-v-attack-craft . 2023-08-03 . 25 October 2023 . IMDEX Asia.
  3. Web site: 4 July 2019 . Knowing the Shaldag-class Patrol Boats . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325113010/https://www.pitzdefanalysis.net/2019/07/knowing-shaldag-class-fast-patrol-boats.html . 25 March 2023 . 25 October 2023 . Pitz Defense Analysis.
  4. Web site: 2022-09-06 . Navy gets 2 brand new patrol craft . live . https://archive.today/20240927124935/https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314258091/navy-gets-2-brand-new-patrol-craft.html . 2024-09-27 . 2023-05-09 . Manila Standard . en-US.
  5. Web site: 29 June 2022 . Israel Shipyards Launches First Two Fast Patrol Craft for Philippine Navy . live . https://archive.today/20230804084031/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/06/israel-shipyards-launches-first-two-fast-patrol-craft-for-philippine-navy/ . 4 August 2023 . 27 September 2024 . Naval News.
  6. Web site: Israeli-made missile boats to help defend PH littoral zones | Philippine News Agency. Philippine News Agency . 25 June 2023.
  7. Web site: 2022-11-28 . PH Navy eyes 15 more Israeli-made missile boats . live . https://archive.today/20221129065734/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189586 . 2022-11-29 . 2022-12-23 . Philippine News Agency.
  8. Web site: 28 November 2022 . Navy eyes 15 more Israeli missile craft . . live . https://archive.today/20221207020500/https://manilastandard.net/news/314282802/navy-eyes-15-more-israeli-missile-craft.html . 7 December 2022 . 13 April 2023.
  9. Web site: Nepomuceno . Priam . 8 May 2023 . PH Navy christens 2 newly-acquired Israeli missile boats . live . https://archive.today/20230508134355/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200954 . 8 May 2023 . 8 May 2023 . Philippine News Agency.
  10. Web site: 8 May 2023 . Philippine Navy christens two new gunboats, inaugurates shipyard . live . https://archive.today/20230508134530/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/869364/philippine-navy-istens-two-new-gunboats-inaugurates-shipyard/story/ . 8 May 2023 . 8 May 2023 . GMA News.
  11. Web site: Casayuran . Mario . 8 May 2023 . Zubiri leads blessing of new navy gunboats, shipbuilding center in Cavite . live . https://archive.today/20240523080911/https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/7/zubiri-leads-christening-of-new-navy-gunboats-and-blessing-of-shipbuilding-center-in-cavite-city . 23 May 2024 . 16 May 2023 . Manila Bulletin.
  12. Web site: Nepomuceno . Priam . 12 April 2024 . PH Navy test-fires new non-line of sight missile system . live . https://archive.today/20240416092429/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1222517 . 16 April 2024 . 23 May 2024 . Philippine News Agency.
  13. News: Dava . Bianca . 8 May 2024 . Balikatan 2024: PH, US forces sink ‘made in China’ ship off Ilocos Norte . live . https://archive.today/20240523080707/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/8/balikatan-2024-ph-us-forces-sink-made-in-china-ship-off-ilocos-norte-1648 . 23 May 2024 . 23 May 2024 . ABS-CBN News.
  14. Web site: Naval Forces Western Mindanao . NFWM Welcomes its Newest Missile-Equipped Patrol Gunboat . live . https://archive.today/20240927125455/https://www.facebook.com/NFWMspeaks/posts/pfbid0LLdx1cH2XBGjuzJ1nj6nET9nLFz6XptXNhWoiGvd5nE1WqpmURyZZ25vKHuqcTgdl?locale=id_ID . 27 September 2024 . 4 July 2024 . Facebook.
  15. Web site: Sadongdong . Martin . 28 November 2022 . Navy commissions 2 new patrol gunboats . live . https://archive.today/20230509141720/https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/28/navy-commissions-2-new-patrol-gunboats . 9 May 2023 . 9 May 2023 . Manila Bulletin.
  16. Web site: 14 April 2023 . Two More Interceptors Delivered To Philippine Navy . live . https://archive.today/20230508134124/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/04/two-more-interceptors-delivered-to-philippine-navy/ . 8 May 2023 . 8 May 2023 . Naval News.
  17. Web site: Sadongdong . Martin . 26 May 2023 . PH Navy commissions 2 new patrol gunboats . live . https://archive.today/20230804084822/https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/26/ph-navy-commissions-2-new-patrol-gunboats?fbclid=IwAR0BUuXrMdfXh4jUMqHYI5agxj4bhkVyrNRLvFM8ueR3IJmTQYEB7TA4Z7c . 4 August 2023 . 27 May 2023 . Manila Bulletin.
  18. Web site: Montero . Max . Delivery of 2 more Shaldag Mk V FAICs . 19 November 2023 . 21 November 2023 . MaxDefense Philippines.
  19. Web site: Nepomuceno . Priam . 19 November 2023 . PH receives 2 more gunboats from Israel . https://web.archive.org/web/20231119060140/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213947 . 19 November 2023 . 19 November 2023 . Philippine News Agency.
  20. Web site: Nepomuceno . Priam . May 22, 2024 . Navy commissions 2 more Israeli-made missile boats . live . https://archive.today/20240523075920/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1225319 . May 23, 2024 . May 24, 2024 . Philippine News Agency.
  21. Web site: 8 November 2024 . 7th Acero-class Patrol Vessel Named “BRP Tomas Campo (PG908)” . 8 November 2024 . Pitz Defense Updates.
  22. News: Nepomuceno . Priam . PH gets 2 more Israeli-made missile boats . 23 September 2024 . Philippine News Agency . 23 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240923143436/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234005 . 23 September 2024.
  23. Web site: Montero . Max . 7 November 2024 . PG-909 is future BRP Albert Majini . 7 November 2024 . MaxDefense Philippines . Facebook.

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