PHL Navy Eyes Air Defense Missile System to Protect Planned SBASMS, Bases

The Philippine Navy’s planned Shore-Based Air Defense Missile System (SBADMS) Acquisition Project and Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (SBASMS) Acquisition Project are two related projects, MaxDefense Philippines said June 5.

According to MaxDefense, the primary role of the SBADMS is “to protect the Philippine Navy’s planned shore-based anti-ship missile systems / coastal defense systems, while also protecting Philippine Navy installations and naval bases.”

For the SBASMS, the Philippine Navy is eyeing BrahMos cruise missile system, MaxDefense previously said.

For the SBADMS, “Rafael’s SPYDER air defense system is the current front-runner although the PN is still looking at other systems, including the Raythoen-Kongsberg NASAMS and LIGNex1 KM-SAM Cheolmae II,” MaxDefense said.

Aside from the Navy, the Philippine Army is also eyeing to acquire BrahMos cruise missile system under its Land-Based Missile System Acquisition Project.

In December 2019, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said contract for Army’s BrahMos could possibly be signed first half of 2020.

However, COVID-19 pandemic affected many of the projects under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.

“The Philippine Army is interested in acquiring this type of missile as it will strengthen our coastal defense operations,” the Philippine Army said in October 2019.

Moreover, the Philippine Air Force has selected SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) air defense system developed by Israeli Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for its Ground-Based Air Defense System (GBADS) Acquisition Project.