The Philippines is planning to acquire 10 additional Acero-class patrol gunboats for the naval force as part of the government’s broader defense modernization initiative.Revealed by Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner, the potential adoption of these vessels will expand the service’s current fast attack interdiction fleet to 19.Similar to the current Acero fleet’s sixth to tenth vessels, the 10 planned ships will be equipped with Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) precision-guided missiles developed by Haifa-based arms producer Rafael.According to a report by Naval News, the acquisition’s terms could possibly be based on Manila’s previous contract with Israel Shipyards Ltd. which built the older Aceros based on the Israeli Navy Shaldag V patrol boat design.Details revealed by Brawner included the potential transfer of technology that will support the Philippine Navy to locally assemble and sustain the incoming platforms at a base in Cavite.The Shaldag MK V fast patrol boat has a length overall (LOA) of 32.65m (107ft), with a max speed of above 40knots. Photo: Israel ShipyardsThe Acero-Class Fast Attack Interdiction VesselManila’s decision to employ the Acero-class patrol gunboats was first announced in 2019 to replace the navy’s now-defunct Tomas Batilo-class ships operational since 1996.The new fleet’s first two vessels entered service in 2022, while the program’s latest delivery was completed in 2024. Currently, the ninth and final ship under the first Acero contract is being constructed in Cavite.An Acero gunboat measures 33 meters (108 feet) long and has a beam of 6 meters (20 meters).It can carry up to 12 personnel and is armed with remote-controlled weapon stations, a Bushmaster II autocannon, Browning heavy machine guns, and M60 machine guns.The vessel is fitted with twin Marine Jet Power water jets and twin MTU 16V 4000 M70 diesel engines for a speed of over 40 knots (74 kilometers/46 miles per hour) and a range of 1,000 nautical miles (1,852 kilometers/1,151 miles).The commissioning of PG-906 and PG-907 is set to bolster the Philippine Navy’s maritime capabilities through technology and shipbuilding transfers. Photo: Armed Forces of the PhilippinesThe post Philippines to Purchase 10 More Acero Patrol Gunboats for Navy appeared first on The Defense Post.