In an effort to strengthen its defense capabilities in the face of escalating tensions with China in the South China Sea, the Philippines is presently in advanced talks with India to purchase nine more BrahMos anti-ship missile systems. This program is a component of the Philippine Army and Marine Corps’ joint Integrated Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (ISBASMS) Acquisition Project.
Building on the previous Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (LBASMS) Acquisition initiative, which originally suggested two missile batteries, the updated initiative seeks to acquire nine.
India’s first big sale of this cutting-edge weaponry was a $375 million deal with the Philippines in 2022 for three batteries of the BrahMos missile system. Philippine staff received training on how to operate and maintain these systems once the first delivery was finished in April 2024. The BrahMos missile, which was created by Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia and India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), is renowned for its supersonic speed (up to Mach 2.8) and range, which varies depending on the variation between 290 and 900 kilometers.
An important turning point in India-Philippines defense cooperation was reached in April 2024 when the Philippines got its first shipment of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. This delivery was a component of a $375 million contract signed in January 2022 that also includes mobile launchers, an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package, and three batteries of the shore-based anti-ship version of the BrahMos missile system.
The Philippines’ strategic realignment in reaction to China’s growing military assertiveness in the area is reflected in the decision to increase the purchase of BrahMos missile batteries. The BrahMos missile system, which can be launched from a variety of platforms and is primarily intended for anti-ship operations, strengthens the Philippines’ coastal defense capabilities against possible threats from Chinese naval forces.
The BrahMos missile system’s first export client was the Philippine Marine Corps. The Coastal Defence Regiment currently uses these systems, and negotiations are underway for additional acquisitions.
This purchase is a component of the Philippines’ larger endeavor to update its military capabilities through collaborations with other countries, such as the US and Japan, in addition to thwarting Chinese maritime actions. Given the continuous territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the nation’s military strategy has been more and more centered on strengthening deterrence measures.
Negotiations for nine more BrahMos batteries are currently underway, which is a major step forward from previous plans that called for just two batteries as part of a prior project. The updated initiative aims to enhance operational preparedness and fortify coastal defenses against any marine threats, especially in disputed regions like those around the Spratly Islands.
As Southeast Asian countries look to strengthen their military capabilities in response to China’s geopolitical problems, the Philippines’ negotiations with India for these missile systems highlight a significant change in regional defense postures.
