Philippines hints at buying more Russian-Indian BrahMos missiles
The Philippines wants to buy additional units of the BrahMos missile from India, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Wednesday.
The Southeast Asian archipelago became the first foreign buyer of the Russian-Indian supersonic cruise missile in 2022, signing a $375 million contract for three shore-based anti-ship missile batteries. India began deliveries in April 2024 and is nearing completion of the original agreement.
“We hope to increase the number of BrahMos units we have,” Teodoro told the Delhi Defense Dialogue. He added that Manila had submitted a wish list to New Delhi to customize the missile system to its operational requirements.
Teodoro explained the customizations were needed because the limited road and bridge infrastructure and lack of an active rail network pose challenges in transporting heavy military equipment.
Philippines Defense Ministry spokesperson Arsenio Andolong separately confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to acquire more BrahMos missiles. Marcos expressed interest in buying more BrahMos missiles during his visit to India in August last year.
The country, a major non-NATO ally of the US, has been modernizing its armed forces and strengthening coastal defenses amid territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
Manila is nearing a deal to buy about five missile systems and nearly 60 missiles for up to $800 million to strengthen its coastal defenses, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing sources. The negotiations are reported to be in their final stages.
The missile was jointly developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya and is manufactured in India. It can be launched from land, sea, and air platforms.
Teodoro said Manila has also identified India as a “very important potential partner” for its military’s satellite program and air defense systems, and offered its territory to India to test satellite technologies.
The two countries also elevated their relations to a strategic partnership during the visit, agreeing to expand defense and maritime security cooperation.
India has expanded BrahMos sales to other Southeast Asian countries, with an agreement to supply the missiles to Indonesia announced in July. Indian Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed in May that a deal with Vietnam had been signed.
