(Photo courtesy of DND)
The Philippines is considering acquiring additional BrahMos cruise missile systems from India to strengthen its maritime defense capabilities, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.
Speaking via video conference during the 3rd Delhi Defense Dialogue on Wednesday, Teodoro said the government intends to expand its existing BrahMos missile inventory as part of efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He noted that the Philippines was the first foreign country to purchase the Indian-made supersonic cruise missile system, which is considered among the fastest operational cruise missiles in the world.
“That being said, we hope to increase the number of BrahMos units we have, and we have also shared a wish list on the BrahMos to the Indian authorities in order to make it more tailor-fitted for the Philippine environment,” Teodoro said.
In January 2022, the Philippines signed a Php 18.9-billion contract with India’s BrahMos Aerospace for three batteries of the missile system.
The agreement was signed by then-Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and BrahMos Aerospace Director General Atul Dinkar Rane.
Each BrahMos battery typically consists of three to six missile launchers, monitoring and tracking equipment, and logistics support vehicles.
The BrahMos missile can be launched from land-based platforms, ships, aircraft and submarines. It can travel at speeds of approximately Mach 2.8, or about 3,400 kilometers per hour, and carry warheads weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms.
The missile system is expected to strengthen the Philippine military’s sea control, coastal defense and anti-access/area-denial capabilities, particularly in protecting strategic maritime areas and island territories.
Teodoro thanked India for providing the Philippines with advanced defense equipment, describing the acquisition as a demonstration of trust between the two countries.
“And we think it is really a significant step, first, in the trust and confidence that India has in the Philippines, because giving such a capability is also a seal of good housekeeping on the recipient country that the Indian authorities made a determination that the country is responsible and that the country would use it only for defensive purposes and not for any purpose contrary to international law,” he said.
Philippines seeks stronger space technology cooperation
Aside from missile systems, Teodoro said the Philippines is pursuing closer cooperation with India in space technology and satellite development.
He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed support for expanding bilateral cooperation in space-related projects, including potential partnerships involving the Philippine Space Agency.
“A special request to me made by the officials of India was cooperation in space technology, where the President of the Philippines (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) committed (to) cooperating into space technology, and we can offer synergies and potentials for cooperation with the Philippine Space Agency,” Teodoro said.
The defense chief said the Philippines could provide testing locations for space technology projects and contribute Filipino technical expertise to joint initiatives.
He also disclosed that Marcos had directed the defense establishment to pursue a satellite acquisition program for the AFP.
“The President has instructed us to enter into an Armed Forces of the Philippines Satellite Acquisition Program, which, of course, India would be a very, very important potential partner for this,” Teodoro added.
The proposed cooperation forms part of efforts to strengthen Philippine defense capabilities through advanced military technology, improved surveillance systems and closer security partnerships with India.
