Philippine Navy welcomes two new Shaldag Mk V patrol boats

The Philippine Navy has welcomed two Shaldag Mk V fast-attack interdiction craft (FAIC).

As informed, two brand new FAIC platforms for the Philippine Navy were delivered to the country on 11 April.

The vessels are a part of the nine platforms contracted with Israel Shipyards Ltd, arrived on board the general cargo ship MV Mick. They were unloaded with the assistance of BRP Mamanwa (LC294) and proceeded to the naval shipyard in Cavite for a series of tests and crew training.

Slated to be christened in May, they will soon join the Acero-class patrol gunboats along with frontrunners BRP Nestor Acero PG901 and BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG902).

To remind, the navy commissioned the first two Acero-class ships in December last year.

The two vessels manufactured by Israel Shipyards Ltd., provided to the Philippine Navy, serve as the first fully-integrated vessels with the naval combat suite out of a total of nine that the Philippine Navy will ultimately receive.

They are a welcome addition to the navy’s capability to secure vital choke points, key sea lines of communication, and littoral areas of the country.