Another Spike-ER Missile Test Slated Nov. 21

The Philippine Navy (PN) will conduct another test-fire activity for its newly-installed Rafael Advanced Defense Ltd. Spike-ER (extended range) surface-to-surface missile off Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan on Wednesday.

This was confirmed by Navy spokesperson Commander Jonathan Zata in a message to the Philippine News Agency Monday.

“The PN will be conducting a scenario-based capability demonstration and live-firing of the newly-installed Spike-Extended Range (ER) missile system and mini-Typhoon machinegun system on board a Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) Mark III on November 21, 2018 off the waters of Lamao Point, Bataan,” Zata added.

He also disclosed that three MPACs, all fitted with the Spike-ER missile system, and an AgustaWestland AW-109 attack helicopter will be participating in the exercise.

Zata said that two missiles, coming from two different MPACs, will be fired at two targets while the AW-109 attack helicopter is firing its rockets.

The MPACs will also be firing their machine guns, he added.

Zata noted that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will witness the capability demonstration.

The first test-firing of the Spike-ER missile took place last Aug. 9 in the same location.

The weapon was fired from one of the PN’s three Spike-ER armed MPACs.

The MPACs were constructed by the Subic-based Propmech Corporation and activated on May 22, 2017.

The PN MPAC Acquisition Project entered into a contract with Rafael, through SIBAT of Israel Ministry of Defense, for the supply and integration of the weapons systems to three Mark III MPACs. On April 15, 2017, Lorenzana approved the Notice to Proceed.

The Spike-ER system, which arrived in the country last April, is the PN’s first missile weapon capable of penetrating 1,000-mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a range of eight kilometers. (PNA)