Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will supply three Mini Typhoon remotely controlled weapon mounts to arm three multi-purpose attack crafts (MPAC MKIII) of the Philippine Navy?. The contract amount is $12 million (PhP 594,319,550), each RWS will operate 12.7 heavy machine guns also mount Spike-ER launchers, extending the boat’s firepower to more than 8 kilometers.
The new boats are constructed by a joint venture between Philippine shipbuilder Propmech Corporation and Taiwanese builder Lung Teh Shipbuilding Corporation. MPAC Mk III will also have provisions for two M60/7.62mm Light Machine Gun. According to Philippine sources each Mini-Typhoon will contain 2,000 rounds and 10 missile canisters. The Philippine Navy is known to be operating six MPACs which are not armed with missiles. Three, 15-meter Mk I, were built by Lung Teh while the other three, 17-meter Mk II, were built by Propmech.
Spike LR Missile launched from a Typhoon weapon station on an Israel Navy Super Dvora Mk 2. A similar configuration was recently tested by the US Navy, from an unmanned surface vessel (USV-PEM). Photo: RAFAEL
