By Priam Nepomuceno

MANILA – Crew members of the Philippine Navy’s fast attack interdictor craft-missile (FAIC-M) boats BRP Tomas Campo (PG-908) and the soon-to-be-commissioned BRP Albert Majini (PG-909) are undergoing training for operation and maintenance of the vessels’ Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) missile system.
The training is being conducted by representatives of NLOS missile system manufacturer, Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense System Limited which started on Jan. 20 and runs until Feb. 7, the BRP Tomas Campo said in a recent social media post.
“The intensive training program, scheduled to run daily from 20 January to 07 February 2025, involves six personnel from each vessel. The participants include the commanding officer, executive officer, weapons officer, and other key members of the weapons departments,” it added.
The activity is aimed at equipping participants with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in the operation and maintenance of the advanced missile system.
It includes a comprehensive curriculum, featuring both theoretical instruction and hands-on application. A significant component of the training is the at-sea phase, which focuses on system testing, calibration, and the execution of missile firing procedures.
The NLOS missile system is equipped with advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors and offers day and night operational capabilities, enhancing its effectiveness in various combat scenarios.
The advanced missile system boasts an impressive range of up to 30 km. (approximately 18.6 miles), enabling operators to engage targets with pinpoint accuracy from stand-off distances.
The BRP Tomas Campo, the Navy’s seventh FAIC-M, was commissioned on Nov. 13, 2024.
While the fifth and sixth FAIC-Ms, BRP Herminigildo Yurong (PG-906) and BRP Laurence Narag (PG-907), were formally commissioned into service by the PN on May 22 of the same year. (PNA)