President to watch Navy’s missile tests off Corregidor

The Philippine Navy will push through this month with tests for its newly acquired missile capability, said Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad, the Navy flag officer-in-command.

Empedrad said last month that the Israeli-made Spike-ER (extended range) missile system mounted on three Navy Mark III multipurpose assault craft would be tested in July and that President Rodrigo Duterte had expressed his intention to watch.

Arsenio Andolong, spokesperson for the Department of National Defense, said the missile system would be tested any day between July 17 and 26 off Corregidor Island.

The acquisition of the missile system from Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in April launched the Navy into the missile age. —Jeannette I. Andrade