Manila, May 2 (IANS): The Philippines Navy has begun installing its first-ever missile system in its three new multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC), an officer said on Wednesday.

The officer said Israeli manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. delivered the Spike ER short-range surface-to-surface missiles to the Philippines Navy last month and that "the installation is ongoing", reports Xinhua news agency.

"It will be a deterrent because this time we have a credible armament that can strike a punch whether the target is a small or large ship," the officer said.

The cost of the new acquisition was not immediately made available.

The officer said more Navy assets will be equipped with missile systems.

"This is just the initial three MPACs that will have missile-firing capability but the Philippines Navy will have more ships that will have missile-firing capability in the near future," he said.

The Israeli manufacturer said on its company website that Spike ER is a "Multi-purpose Missile system for operation in ranges up to 8 km".

It said Spike ER only weighs 34 kg and can be mounted on any light and even heavier attack helicopters.