The Philippine Navy and Israel Shipyards have begun conducting sea trials of two new fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) in a series.
The trials in Israel also included functional testing of all mission-critical machinery and navigation and communications equipment as well as live weapons firing.
The FAICs are variants of the Shaldag Mark V patrol vessels being built by Israel Shipyards for the Israeli Navy and other customers. A total of nine FAICs will be supplied to the Philippines beginning in the third quarter of this year for operation in littoral and EEZ waters.
The first two FAICs have been named BRP Lolinato To-ong and BRP Nestor Acero after two Philippine Marine Corps personnel who were posthumously awarded the Medal for Valor, the Philippine armed forces' highest combat decoration.
