On December 15, 2022, Israeli company RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. announced that two FAIC-M/SHALDAG MK5 vessels with a fully-integrated RAFAEL naval combat suite have been commissioned by the Philippine Navy.
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Philippine Navy Rafael FAIC-M/SHALDAG MK5 vessel. (Picture source Rafael )
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 9 which the Philippine Navy will ultimately receive.
RAFAEL's naval combat suite, which is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, includes a Combat Management System (CMS), Typhoon and Mini-Typhoon Remote Operating Weapon Systems, Naval Spike Missiles, SeaCom Internal and external Communication System and BNET Tactical Data Link, as well as training, support, and maintenance services.
RAFAEL's Naval Combat Suite is based on combat-proven technology and systems, relying on years of experience and deep operational know-how in various naval arenas and scenarios, and integrating combat-proven technologies in all domains. RAFAEL's off-the-shelf, leading technologies and solutions, provide naval forces defense superiority in littoral and blue water against all modern naval threats above and below the waves.
Ran Tavor, Vice President and head of RAFAEL's Naval Warfare systems Directorate: "We congratulate the Philippine Navy for commissioning its first two FAIC-M / SHALDAG MK5 vessels. This contract serves as another example of RAFAEL's ability to integrate the most advanced defense solutions on a variety of platforms. We are proud of what this achievement means not only for RAFAEL but for the Philippine Navy and its enhanced naval superiority capabilities. These new naval assets will provide our Philippine partners with the capabilities to deal with a variety of threats and establish a fortified defense in the naval arena."
The Shaldag Mk V is a variant of the SHALDAG-Class FPBs, a combat-proven, all-aluminum, light, and fast patrol vessel driven by powerful waterjets. The vessel is designed to conduct naval security missions.
The Shaldag MK V, as with all members of the Shaldag Class, provides a high level of maneuverability and seakeeping. Designed to operate in distant arenas, it is cost-effective with a high firepower-to-displacement ratio.
The Shaldag MK V has an overall length of 32.65 m, a beam of 6.2 m, and a displacement of 95 tons. It can reach a maximum speed of 40 knots (70 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 km).
