BrahMos Eyes New Order from Philippines Army, Deliveries of Missiles to Navy by Year-end

The Philippines will take delivery of its first batch of Russo-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles by year-end, while the Army is likely to buy these missiles soon.

“Hopefully, there will be no extreme weather conditions. We are moving full ahead to achieve our goals,” BrahMos director for market promotion and export Praveen Pathak told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Fleet Defense Expo at Naval Base Heracleo Alano.

The delivery will include the missiles themselves, mobile launchers and other equipment and will be shipped from India in December, Pathak said.

In December 2021, the then Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, placed an order for three batteries of cruise missiles, worth about P18.9 billion (around $335 million), as part of the Navy’s shore-based anti-ship missile system project. The purchase also includes training for operators and maintainers. The Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment will be the primary user of the BrahMos system.

BrahMos is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile. It can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms, and flies at nearly three times the speed of sound.

Pathak is optimistic that they will soon sign a similar deal with the Philippine Army which expressed interest in getting two more batteries.

“Most of all the technical issues have been finalized,” Pathak said. “We are very much positive that the Army will follow the footsteps of the Marines and we will sign a contract very soon.”

The Army’s order could not be finalized in 2021 because it had not completed deliveries for its second Horizon modernization program, which expired last year.

Many countries are said to be eyeing the BrahMos including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.