The delivery of the first of the eight units of fast-attack interdiction craft-missile (FAIC-M) set for December was delayed to early 2022 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
According to Philippine Navy. "Covid-19 has delayed some of the delivery of our platforms. I could give you an example, the first of our fast-attack interdiction craft-missile, if not for the Covid-19, should have been delivered this December. But because of this Covid-19, the first of the eight platforms is expected to be delivered already by the first quarter of 2022," said Navy chief, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, in a virtual presser when asked on how the pandemic has affected the PN's modernization.
The Philippine Navy's fast-attack interdiction craft-missile project is expected to replace the force of patrol killer medium (PKM) or medium-sized patrol craft.
The project, approved for inclusion in the Horizon 2 project list of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, has a budget of PHP10 billion and is for Multi-Year Contracting.
Four of the fast-attack interdiction craft-missile will be armed with non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missiles with pinpoint accuracy and a range of 25 kilometers while the other four will be armed with machine guns and light automatic cannons.
With the fast-attack interdiction craft-missile, the Philippine Navy shall have the capability to defend the key sea lines of communications (SLOCs), such as Mindoro, Balabac, Sibutu, and Basilan Straits against conventional threats.
While operating in restricted waters, the fast-attack interdiction craft-missile can interdict surface threats and launch NLOS missiles safely using the surrounding littoral areas as maneuver space and cover.
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