MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) announced on Friday that the surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles of its two Jose Rizal-class frigates will be test-fired in June.
"Hopefully, after this anniversary, maybe next month, we will witness the test-firing of our newly-acquired weapon systems, itong ating surface-to-air missile at saka surface-to-surface missile na nandiyan sa atin frigates (our surface-to-surface air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles installed on our frigates)," PN flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado said during PN’s 124th founding anniversary.
Bordado was referring to the Mistral 3 surface-to-air-missiles (SAMs) of the Jose Rizal-class missile frigates -- BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) -- which were delivered last October 8.
Procurement and delivery of the Mistral 3 SAMs is part of the PN Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 2B which was awarded to MBDA Missile Systems based in France.
Bordado thanked Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for his support of the PN’s modernization.
"But having these modern and multi-capable vessels, armament, and equipment are not enough and I would like to emphasize this again today, the Navy's assets (and) modernization must complement the modernization of its facilities and the mindset of our personnel," he said.
He also said naval assets are useless "without highly skilled and versatile personnel".
"Without appropriate education, training and doctrines or adequate bases or facilities, yun mga nakikita niyong (which you are seeing) our naval assets will be meaningless," Bordado said.
(PNA)