By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) on Tuesday announced that its flagship guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), for the first time, successfully fired two of its MBDA Mistral 3 surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers.
In a statement, the Navy said the test-firing took place in the waters of San Antonio, Zambales on Monday.
The two drones that the BRP Jose Rizal fired upon were supplied by the US Indo-Pacific Command’s Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability and Threat Systems Management Office.
It added the ship hit both targets successfully.
“This historic firing which validated the effectiveness of a new capability for the PN and the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines was witnessed, in real-time, at the Philippine Fleet headquarters in Subic where Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe, along with his unit commanders and staff, were monitoring and communicating with participating units through the aid of various command and control Systems,” the PN said.
It also said Offshore Combat Force head and Naval Task Force commander, Commodore Raul Regis, was aboard the BRP Jose Rizal, executing the actual scenario-based test firing.
The PN said the BRP Jose Rizal also took part in a simulated Integrated Air and Missile Defense exercise together with other participants of “Balikatan” 2025 last April 27.
“Moreover, also observing on board was the Commander of the Army Artillery Regiment and the rest of the TWG for the Short-Range Air Defense Project,” it said.
Providing vital support during the exercise were other Fleet capital assets BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), MUARS Flight Bravo’s Scan Eagle ISR UAS, missile gunboat BRP Albert Majini (PG-909) and coastal patrol vessel BRP Rafael Pargas (PG-379).
The Mistral 3 is a versatile, combat-proven short-range air defense missile system with a “fire and forget” capability developed by MBDA of France.
This significantly bolsters the Jose Rizal Class Frigate’s capability with advanced weapon systems, which is a critical part of modern defense systems that ensure airspace security, strategic deterrence, and optimum operational readiness as the Fleet carries on with its mandate to uphold territorial integrity and protect the country’s maritime interests.
The missiles were delivered and integrated into the BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna in October 2021.
This successful firing demonstrates the PN’s resolve to forge modern and mission-ready personnel, assets, and systems toward strengthening this maritime nation’s archipelagic defense. It likewise provides a remarkable prelude to the celebration of the PN’s 127th anniversary in May. (PNA)
