In a significant stride toward bolstering its position in the global defence market, India is set to dispatch its first BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, marking a pivotal moment in bilateral defence collaboration.
The USD 375 million deal, which was finalised in January 2022, is a marker of India’s strategic aspirations as an emerging player in defence exports.
This agreement represents the biggest defence export India has ever undertaken with a foreign nation. The maiden export of BrahMos missiles is scheduled to depart from Nagpur aboard an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft late April 18. Accompanying the transport will be three civilian Freightliners carrying additional components and support systems for the BrahMos missile. The shipment is expected to arrive in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, early morning on April 19.
The BrahMos missiles, earmarked for the Philippine Marine Corps’ coastal defence regiment, will significantly boost the defence capabilities in the West Philippine Sea, an area rife with ongoing maritime disputes, especially with China.
World’s Fastest Supersonic Cruise Missile
Recognised as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos is the result of a collaborative effort between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
Initially, its operational range was restricted to 290 km, a limit that was expanded after India’s accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Presently, BrahMos boasts an indigenisation rate of up to 85%, with further efforts underway to localise more components and content of the missile.
India’s defence exports for the fiscal year 2023-24 amounted to Rs 21,083 crore (approximately USD 2.63 billion), reflecting a remarkable growth of 32.5% compared to the previous year. Over the past decade, India’s defence exports have surged by 31 times compared to the figures from fiscal year 2013-14.
Against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, the BrahMos missile deal is expected to reshape defence alliances, bolstering India’s stature as a key defence partner while boosting the Philippines’ defensive posture against regional threats.
This delivery not only signifies the transfer of arms but also reaffirms the deepening ties between India and the Philippines, contributing to the broader objective of upholding stability in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.