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Breaking News: India Ships Second BrahMos Anti-Ship Missile Battery to Philippines Amid Rising Indo-Pacific Tensions.
According to information published on April 20, 2025, by the Indian newspaper "The New Indian Express", India has successfully shipped the second battery of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to the Philippines. This milestone reinforces India's emergence as a credible defense exporter and marks a significant deepening of strategic and defense ties between New Delhi and Manila. Unlike the first battery—which was delivered via Indian Air Force aircraft in April 2024—the second unit was transported by sea, demonstrating not only logistical efficiency but also India’s ability to scale up its defense export operations in response to increasing global demand.
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BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile System mounted on a Tatra 6x6 mobile launcher, displayed during India's Republic Day military parade in New Delhi, January 26, 2023. (Picture source: Wikimedia)
The BrahMos missile system, jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, represents one of India’s most successful defense programs to date. Conceived in the late 1990s and operationalized in the early 2000s, the BrahMos is a result of long-term strategic cooperation between India and Russia, with India holding a majority stake in BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited. The missile derives its name from two rivers: the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in Russia—a symbolic nod to the Indo-Russian partnership.
The system was initially developed for the Indian Navy as a ship-launched missile but has since evolved into a versatile platform capable of being launched from land, air, and undersea platforms. Over the years, BrahMos has undergone several technological upgrades, including the integration of indigenous seekers, improved propulsion systems, and digital fire-control systems. Most recently, the introduction of an extended-range variant has pushed the operational envelope beyond 400 kilometers, although the export version remains limited to 290 kilometers in accordance with the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) guidelines, which India joined in 2016.
Each BrahMos battery exported to the Philippines includes a fully integrated coastal defense system comprising mobile autonomous launchers, a fire-control radar, command and control centers, and logistical support vehicles. Mounted on high-mobility Tatra 6x6 platforms, the system is designed to operate in the Philippines' challenging tropical terrain. The supersonic cruise missile can carry a 200–300 kg conventional warhead and uses a solid propellant booster for initial acceleration followed by a liquid-fuel ramjet engine, enabling it to cruise at low altitudes and strike with pinpoint precision. The sea-skimming flight path in the terminal phase makes it extremely difficult to intercept, even for advanced air defense systems.
The Philippines signed the $374.96 million contract with BrahMos Aerospace in January 2022, marking India’s first major weapons export agreement. The contract encompasses the delivery of three BrahMos Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (SBASMS) batteries, complete with operator training and long-term integrated logistics support. The first group of 21 Philippine Navy personnel underwent specialized training in India in February 2023, covering both operational procedures and technical maintenance of the missile systems. This knowledge transfer ensures that the Philippines can independently manage and operate the system, thereby accelerating its strategic deployment timeline.
The acquisition of BrahMos by the Philippines is particularly significant given the country’s geographic location and its security challenges in the South China Sea. With an archipelagic coastline exceeding 36,000 kilometers and frequent encounters with foreign maritime forces, the ability to deploy a mobile, high-speed, precision-strike weapon system greatly enhances the Philippine military’s deterrence posture. The missile's reach enables it to protect key choke points, naval bases, and maritime infrastructure within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), offering a credible countermeasure to incursions and grey-zone tactics by regional adversaries.
India’s decision to supply BrahMos to the Philippines reflects a strategic vision that extends beyond defense sales. It is part of a broader policy to strengthen security partnerships with ASEAN nations and promote a multipolar Indo-Pacific order. The success of this export deal has paved the way for deeper cooperation, as the Philippines is now negotiating for up to nine additional BrahMos batteries under the Integrated Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (ISBASMS) Acquisition Project. If finalized, this would make the Philippines the largest foreign operator of the BrahMos system and further solidify its defense alignment with India.
India, for its part, views the BrahMos program as a cornerstone of its “Make in India” defense manufacturing initiative. The missile system's export to the Philippines serves not only as a testament to its technological maturity but also as a vehicle for enhancing India’s defense industrial base, promoting indigenous manufacturing, and creating opportunities for further upgrades and joint development. Discussions are already underway to introduce newer variants, including the air-launched BrahMos-A for fighter jets and a submarine-launched version for undersea warfare.
The delivery of the second BrahMos battery is more than a transactional milestone—it is a symbol of India’s growing stature as a defense technology provider and a reliable partner in regional security. For the Philippines, it marks a pivotal step in building a robust coastal defense capability that is essential for safeguarding national sovereignty and contributing to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.