TSAMTO, December 3. The Philippine Air Force Command received elements of the third battery of the SPYDER-MR medium-range air defense system (Surface-to-Air Python and DERby) manufactured by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
According to a press release from the Philippine Air Force Air Defense Command, the inspection of the newly delivered equipment of the third SPYDER-MR battery on the territory of the 960th Air and Missile Defense Group was conducted by Commander Major General Fabian M. Pedregosa.
As already reported by CAMTO, the acquisition of new ground-based air defense systems (GBADS) was included in the list of programs for implementation during the second stage ("Second Horizon") of the "Program for the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines" (RAFPMP), approved by Republic Act No. 10349 (Republic Act No. 10349). This phase is being implemented during 2018-2022.
In January 2019, Philippine Defense Minister Delphine Lorenzana confirmed his intention to purchase SPYDER air defense systems developed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with the participation of Israel Aerospace Industries. The mobile air defense system is designed to protect critical ground facilities, mobile platforms and friendly forces from aerial threats, including combat aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles, guided munitions and rockets.
The Ministry of National Defense of the Philippines signed a contract for the supply of air defense systems with the Ministry of Defense of Israel and the company Rafael Advanced Defense System on September 23, 2019. The contract is worth 6.847 billion filip. The peso (about $141 million) included comprehensive logistical support, a simulator, a missile repair shop and personnel training. It was reported that the first two batteries will be delivered by the end of 2022, and the third battery will be delivered in the first quarter of 2023.
The components of the first battery arrived in the Philippines on September 24 and 29, 2022 and were adopted by the 960th Air and Missile Defense Group stationed at Basa, subordinate to the Philippine Air Force Air Defense Command. In service with the Philippine Air Force, the system is designated SPADS (SPYDER Philippine Air Defense System).
Philippine Air Force personnel began training in the use of SAMs after the first SPYDER training center was officially adopted on April 26, 2022. The facility is also located at the Basa air base in the city of Floridablanca (prov.Pampanga).
The Philippine Air Force Command announced the receipt of the second battery of the SPYDER-MR medium-range anti-aircraft missile system at the end of November 2023. The 960th Air and Missile Defense Group deployed the system as part of the Dagat Langit Lupa 2023 (AJEX DAGIT-PA) exercise. On the photographic materials presented from the exercises, the launchers were still empty, so it is logical to assume that guided missiles had not yet been delivered to the complexes at that time. It was assumed that they would probably be transferred with the third batch of SPYDER-MR installations and other related components.
Each SPADS battery includes four launchers on the chassis of a Tatra truck with an 8x8 wheel formula of Czech production, transport-charging vehicles and a fire control system. The SPYDER-MR complex provides target destruction at ranges up to 50 km and altitudes up to 16 km.
