The Department of National Defense will acquire a SPYDER missile system from Israel.
“Yes, we are. [However], I do not know [yet] the exact number of [batteries we will be getting],” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Thursday when sought for an update on the military’s modernization efforts.
Battery refers to the grouping of missile launchers. A normal battery consists of three or more missile launchers.
SPYDER is short for Surface-to-air Python and Derby mobile-air defense system that was developed by the Israeli defense technology firm, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, with assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries.
The DND has earlier acquired surface-to-surface Spike-ER missiles which were installed on the Philippine Navy’s multi-purpose assault craft from the same Israeli company.