New Delhi: The Philippines is considering a fresh purchase of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems from India and has shared a list of proposed modifications to adapt the weapon system to its geographical and operational requirements, according to a report.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro disclosed the country’s plans on November 4 while addressing the Third Delhi Defence Dialogue, The EurAsian Times reported.
“We hope to increase the number of BrahMos units we have, and we have also shared a wish list on the BrahMos with the Indian authorities in order to make it more tailor-fitted for the Philippine environment,” Teodoro said.
According to the report, Manila could acquire up to five additional BrahMos systems, comprising nearly 60 missiles, under a potential deal estimated to be worth between $700 million and $800 million.
The Philippines had signed a $375 million agreement with India in 2022 for three batteries of the shore-based anti-ship variant of the BrahMos missile. The procurement was aimed at strengthening its coastal defence capabilities amid growing maritime tensions with China in the South China Sea, particularly the disputed West Philippine Sea.
The report noted that Manila is now looking at integrating BrahMos into a wider coastal defence and long-range strike network rather than deploying it as a standalone military capability.
The growing importance of the missile was also reflected in joint military exercises involving US and Philippine Marines earlier this year. The exercises included maritime-strike drills simulating the use of BrahMos anti-ship missiles, with drones and ground-based missile systems being used to practise targeting procedures against simulated naval threats.
The Philippine government has also established a BrahMos deployment facility at the Philippine Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in Zambales, along the coast of Western Luzon.
Despite China’s considerable military superiority, the report said the BrahMos could provide the Philippines with an asymmetric deterrence capability through anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies, potentially complicating the movement of hostile naval forces in strategically important waters.
Developed jointly by India and Russia, BrahMos is a precision-guided, supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from land, naval platforms and aircraft. Powered by a liquid-fuelled ramjet engine, it can reach speeds approaching Mach 3, nearly three times the speed of sound.
Its high speed, low-altitude flight profile and precision-strike capability make interception particularly challenging for enemy air defence systems, the report said.
Former Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had earlier described the missile acquisition as an important deterrent against attempts to undermine the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Teodoro has also described BrahMos as a potential “game-changer” for the Philippines’ maritime security, reflecting Manila’s growing interest in strengthening its defence capabilities through cooperation with India.
The possible expansion of the BrahMos deal would further deepen defence ties between New Delhi and Manila, while highlighting India’s growing role as a supplier of advanced military equipment to Southeast Asian countries.
–IANS