- Yes
- No
A Unique Subvariant of the SPYDER-MR
– 960th Air & Missile Defense Wing, Air Defense Command Motto
OVERVIEW
Spoiler
The SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) is the first fully modern, networked ground-based air defense missile system of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Built by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (Israel), it represents a huge leap from the legacy anti-aircraft guns that the PAF relied on for decades.
By 2012, the PAF was in dire need to improve the air defense cover of the country which by late 2015 - the GBADS Acquisition Project was finally approved under Horizon 2 of the AFP Modernization Program. The PAF then listed these competitors by mid-2016 which include:
- SPYDER-MR
- IRIS-T SLM
- MIM-23 Hawk (Hawk XXI variant)
- Akash
Late considerations were also evaluated such as Russia’s M1-2 Buk and South Korea’s LIGNex1 KM-SAM. However the PAF’s Technical Working Group still ranked the SPYDER-MR in their evaluations. By 2017, the Philippine Govt. announced that it will proceed with G2G acquisition and since the Philippines doesnt have an MOU with Germany, G2G acquisition cant be allowed for the IRIS-T SLM. The SPYDER-MR then became the preferred choice for the Department of National Defense as they want to pursue a common C4ISR platform which Israel could provide.
DND & AFP officials inspect the Elta EL/M-2084 radar for the SPYDER-MR in 2016
By 2019, the first Special Allocation Release Order for the GBADS Acquisition Project was released to the public confirming that the Philippine Air Force has decided to procure the SPYDER Air Defense System. By mid-2022, the first units of the SPYDER Philippines Air Defense System was seen and it was only then that it was confirmed that the Philippines had worked out some deal with Rafael to have some sort of mix-and-match with a different radar and command & control unit, and less launchers per battery with only 3 Missile Firing Units instead of the typical 6 per battery. The delivery also included the establishment of the SPADS Training Center just 2 months earlier.
The 2nd battery was delivered around 2023, with the last 3rd battery delivered in 2024. Differences with the usual SPYDER-MR will be discussed in the section below.
SPECIFICATIONS
Spoiler
The SPYDER-MR and SPYDER Philippine Air Defense System differ in slight ways being slightly inferior to the usual SPYDER-MR system. Unconfirmed reports say this was an offshoot of the SPYDER AIO program as it was only first presented in the Singapore Air Show in 2022. Considering the radar and C&C unit, its safe to say its at least related to that development.
The MSV, MFU, and FSV should at least be the same as with the SPYDER-MR system however differences arrive at the Command and Control Unit:
As you can see, the CCU is configured resembling closely the CCU of a SPYDER ER ADS which uses an Elta EL/M-2016 ATAR radar. However the SPADS uses a different radar resembling closely to the one used for the SPYDER AIO System.
It is speculated to be the EL/M-2138M Radar “Green Rock” used for air surveillance, Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD), and C-RAM missions and have up to 100km detection range for aircraft. Its also speculated that it also uses a derivative of the EL/M-2106 ATAR for redundancy which is the rotating part above the Green Rock radar. This is however unconfirmed and its still yet to be actually fully identified what radar/s are actually being used.
Missile Firing Unit
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Ground Based Air Defense System, Medium Range |
| Mass | 30.6 tons (no load) |
| Length | ~11 meters |
| Width | ~2.5 meters |
| Height | ~8 meters |
| Max speed | >80 km/h on road |
| Chassis | Tatra Truck T815-7 8x8 platform |
| Armament | Python 5 for short range (~20 km), and I-Derby MR for medium range (~50 km) |
Command and Control Unit
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Ground Based Air Defense System, Medium Range |
| Mass | 26.9 tons |
| Length | ~11 meters |
| Width | ~2.5 meters |
| Height | ~8 meters |
| Max speed | >80 km/h on road |
| Chassis | Tatra Truck T815-7 8x8 platform |
| Radar | Elta EL/M 2138 Green Rock S-Band AESA radar |
| Detection Range | - Heavy Mortars: Up to 15 Km |
| - Ultralight UAV: Up to 60 Km | |
| - Fighter Aircraft: Up to 100 Km | |
| with possible smaller Elta EL/M-2106 ATAR for redundancy ( > 60km) |
IN-GAME
The SPYDER Philippines Air Defense System is basically a SPYDER-MR with an inferior radar (the Elta EL/M-2084 MMR radar can detect up to 250 km and track up to 200 km). With Gaijin’s smaller maps, it should actually be easier for it to be integrated within War Thunder’s current meta.
If added together with ASEAN within the Japanese TT or with the Israeli Tech Tree, it will be an interesting premium to have if Gaijin plans to add the SPYDER MR so that could be in the Tech Tree while this could sit at a slightly lower BR.
MORE PHOTOS
SOURCES
Spoiler
Ground Based Air Defense System (GBADS) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force - Philippine Defense Resource
PAF Ground Based Air Defense System Acquisition - Page 4 - Philippines Defense Forces Forum
Philippine Air Force to start receiving its Rafael Spyder Ground-Based Air Defense System in 2021 ~ MaxDefense Philippines
DEFENSE STUDIES: Delivery of SPYDER Philippines Air Defense System (SPADS) have been Completed
RAFAEL SPYDER GBADS and the Philippine Airspace Protection - Pitz Defense Analysis
https://www.paf.mil.ph/news-articles/paf-spyder-air-defense-system-simulator-training-center-formally-accepted
https://www.iai.co.il/p/elm-2138m-green-rock#gscw504791
2138 | ELTA North America
https://x.com/DPMHAUS1/status/1006891978427064320