Matagumpay na sinubok ng Philippine Navy sa pamamagitan ng Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) ang kanilang Spike ER Missile na inilunsad mula sa sa isa sa mga Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts (MPAC) ng 3rd Boat Attack Division sa isinagawang Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) events sa may vicinity 17.8 nautical miles South West off ng Salkulakit Island sa probinsiya ng Basilan nuong October 28, 2021.
Pinakawala ang missile at natumbok nito ang kaniyang target mula sa apat na kilometrong distansiya.
” For the exercise, floating targets were constructed for the live firing exercise. Aside from the missile firing, participating warships also fired and tested their naval guns,” ayon sa NFWM Public Affairs Office.
Ang nasabing aktibidad ay bahagi ng limang araw na PN Exercise Pagsisikap 2021 .
” It aims to test wartime and peacetime doctrines in the conduct of amphibious operations, maritime interdiction operations, surveillance and reconnaissance of the maritime areas, civil-military operations, and a host of other traditional and non-traditional naval operations,” dagdag pa ng Naval Forces Western Mindanao.
Ang Spike ER Missile ay ang kauna-unahang missile na binili ng hukbo na capable of penetrating 1,000-mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor.
” It is a flexible missile system proven by its dual guidance system, that is the command and homing guidance, capable of hitting targets at a maximum distance of 8 km,” dagdag pa ng NavForWem.
Napag-alaman na ito ang ikalawang pagkakataon na ang Spike ER Missile ay matagumpay na inilunsad simula ng maideliver ito sa Philippine Navy nuong 2018.
Subalit ito naman ang kauna-unahang sinubok ang missile sa isang live firing exercise.
