SPYDER is a famous Israeli short and medium range mobile air defense system
It is capable of striking aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, drones and precision-guided munitions
SPYDER will create a reliable defensive umbrella against air threats
In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Singapore are the two countries that possess these powerful air defense systems
The Philippines is expected to be the next country in Southeast Asia to possess this advanced weapon
Accordingly, the Philippines will receive three Israeli Spyder SAM batteries worth $141 million
Deliveries are said to have been arranged earlier in December, but nothing has been confirmed yet
Earlier in January 2019, the leader of the Philippine Department of Defense was interested in the Spyder air defense system developed by Israel Rafael ADS
In March, 10 officers from the Philippine Air Force were selected to train with Rafael
Rafael is the same company that developed and manufactured Israel’s famed Iron Dome
which has a 90 percent success rate in intercepting enemy projectiles
Since its installation in 2011, the Iron Dome has downed 2,400 rockets fired from Gaza
The SPYDER fire Python 5 and Derby missiles, designed by Rafael.
Basically these are air-to-air type missiles, modified to be used as surface-to-air missiles
The Python 5 short range missile has a range of 15 km. It has infrared guidance and imagery archive
It can identify a wide range of airborne threats
The Derby is a short-to-medium range missile
It has an active homing guidance through radio frequency
After being launch it locks on, tracks and destroys the target. The Derby has a range of up to 50 km
According to the report, the Philippine variant is SPYDER-MR
The launcher vehicle carries 8 missiles
All missiles are fitted with boosters for extended range
Most of the system elements are the same in both MR & SR versions
The SPYDER MR system is additionally supported by a truck-mounted high performance surveillance radar, that gives longer range
Both versions can carry any mix of missiles
The SPYDER defense web can be arranged in less than 5 minutes
Once the battery is set up the first missile can be launched within 5 seconds
Systems radar controls over 40 km area and allow the system to operate in day/night and all weather condition
The SPYDER air defense system can be based on various chassis
The system will give the Philippines its first ever umbrella cover and response against aerial attacks