The Philippine Air Force launched its first Spyder air defense surface-to-air missile system in the first week of November.
These will be used to strengthen the country’s coastal air defenses, with particular emphasis on the West Philippine Sea approach. It is expected to defend the air base and the BrahMos anti-ship missile battery that will be deployed in 2023.
Rafael Spyder was selected by the Air Force in 2018 as part of the modernization of its Horizon 2 ground-based air defense system. The systems were awarded under a $141 million contract that includes three batteries, including a mobile Tatra 815 8 X 8 truck carrier/transmitter, mobile radar, and command and control stations.
In addition, Rafael was required to provide training for Filipino operators and technicians, as well as maintenance and service support for the system, including the construction of a maintenance facility. The training begins in early 2021 at Barca Air Force Base in Blanca, Florida, Pampanga.
As AMR earlier reported, the Spyder anti-aircraft missile system simulator, provided by Rafael, was inaugurated at the base in May 2022.
Spyder-ER is a medium-range air defense system that uses Python-5 (SR-short-range) and Derby (MR-medium-range) surface-to-air missiles, which can use the same launcher. The Python has a range of 20 kilometers, while the Derby has a range of up to 50 kilometers. The former uses infrared homing and electro-optical imaging, has a “lock-on-launch” capability and an airspeed of Mach 4. Derby uses fire-and-forget active radar homing.
Aerial surveillance is provided by the ELTA EL/M-2084 multi-mission radar, a 3D AESA S-band system capable of detection at 250 km. Acquisition is performed by the ELTA EL/M 2106 Advanced Tactical AESA L-Band Radar, which can target aircraft up to 110 kilometers away, helicopters up to 40 kilometers away, and drones up to 60 kilometers away.
The Spyder is all-weather and multi-target capable, has an advanced ECCM, and can be battery-controlled over a wireless network. The battery can be ready for launch in five minutes.
960th The Air and Missile Defense Group is understood to be manning the Spyder battery. The third of these will be delivered in 2023. The Philippines joins Singapore and Vietnam in deploying Spyder in the Indo-Pacific.
Stephen W. Miller
