As regional tensions in the Indo-Pacific intensify, especially because of the ongoing conflict with China over the South China Sea, the Philippines is proactively strengthening its defense connection with India, indicating a significant shift in its strategic ties.
The Philippines is now attempting to acquire India’s domestically developed Akash-1S air defense missile system as its next significant air defense upgrade, following the completion of the acquisition of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems from India, a $375 million deal initially agreed in January 2022, with the initial deliveries completed and the remaining deliveries anticipated by the end of 2025.
India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) created the sophisticated, medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system known as the Akash-1S, which is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).
The ability of this system to combat a variety of aerial threats, such as fighter aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and guided rockets, makes it noteworthy. The Akash-1S is a highly mobile and reliable defense system that is particularly well-suited for archipelagic environments like the Philippines. Its range is up to 30 to 45 kilometers, its altitude envelope is up to 20 kilometers, and it can track 64 targets and engage up to 12 at once per battery.
During “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025, the Akash-1S demonstrated its combat effectiveness by successfully intercepting and destroying Pakistan’s Fateh-1 guided rockets, which are a sophisticated, low radar cross-section artillery weapon. By recovering debris, the Indian Air Force validated these operational accomplishments and increased awareness of India’s domestic missile capabilities abroad.
The primary technological innovation of the Akash-1S is its in-house active radar seeker, which provides remarkable performance and accuracy against fast-moving, maneuvering targets.
The purchase of the Akash-1S is a component of a larger modernization initiative for the Philippines that aims to strengthen its deterrence posture and guarantee the survival of strategic assets in the face of threats from China’s more assertive regional behavior.
The Akash-1S’s movable launch platforms, which can quickly redeploy across scattered islands, further meet the geographical requirements of the Philippines. The agreement is positioned as a potent yet economical choice for Manila, with each battery reportedly costing between $200 and 230 million.
According to reports, talks over pricing, integration with the Philippines’ current radar systems, and the transfer of critical operational technology have progressed in the Akash-1S purchase negotiations. Given the scope and urgency of Manila’s air defense goals, the contract is expected to be greater than India’s most recent Akash sale to Armenia.
High-level trips, like that of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to India, are strengthening diplomatic and defense ties, with the Akash-1S acquisition at the top of the bilateral conversation agenda.
As Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines look for alternatives to established defense suppliers in an effort to diversify their military technology portfolios and lessen their over-reliance on a single power, the Akash-1S procurement represents a strategic realignment in addition to a defense upgrade.
India is positioned as a reliable long-term partner for nations dealing with the rapid regional militarization and shifting threat perceptions because to its steady delivery of defense equipment, starting with the BrahMos and continuing with the Akash-1S.
In addition to continuing a thriving defense cooperation, the Philippines’ pursuit of India’s Akash-1S system is a strategic reaction to new airborne and missile threats in the area. It serves national security goals against a backdrop of complicated regional dynamics, makes use of a technically sophisticated and battle-tested missile platform, and strengthens India’s rising prominence as a major strategic counterweight in the Indo-Pacific and a worldwide arms provider.
