The Philippines has approved BrahMos Aerospace’s proposal worth $374 million for the sale of shore-based anti-ship missile system to the island nation’s Navy.
BrahMos Aerospace has been asked to carry out performance security which is similar to the security deposit that means a financial guarantee that the company needs to furnish as the successful tenderer for the due performance of the contract that already has been carried out.
This is a landmark win for India’s Defence Industrial complex in a global competition. The Indian offer is supported by Russia, which has developed the 290-km missile with India and continues to supply key played parts, notably the engine which powers Brahmos to Mach 3, or three times the speed of sound.
This will be amongst the most significant Indian exports of offensive military equipment to an ASEAN country and marks a big moment in India’s Act East Policy. This marks the success of Indian outreach efforts to countries similarly threatened by Chinese expansionism.
Negotiated with the Government of India, it includes the delivery of three batteries, training for operators and maintainers as well as the necessary Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package. Conceptualized as early as 2017, the Office of the President approved its inclusion in the Horizon 2 Priority Projects in 2020,” the Secretary stated.
“The Coastal Defense Regiment of the Philippine Marines will be the primary employer of this modern strategic defense capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Secretary Lorenzana added. There’s often been tension in the waters around Philippines because of aggressive Chinese naval presence and its territorial claims over the Spratly Islands.
BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.
Brahmos missile regiments are deployed by India close to the borders where it faces threat of external aggression. It is the world’s fastest cruise missile, which with its manoeuvre capability is virtually impossible to intercept. It’s high level of accuracy is also proven.
Protracted Negotiations
The contract is for the shore-based variant of the anti-ship missile system and it will bolster Philippines’ defence capability amid increasing Chinese aggression.
In November, Chinese coast guard ships blocked and used water cannons on two Philippines supply boats heading to a disputed shoal occupied by Filipino marines in the South China Sea. This led to a warning from the Philippines government that its vessels are covered under a mutual defence treaty with the United States.
Negotiations for BrahMos between India and the Philippines had been going on for the last few years, but hit a roadblock in December 2020, with Manila citing budgetary limitations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In March 2021, India signed a key enabling pact with the Philippines that had paved the way for government-to-government deals on defence equipment, including BrahMos.
Apart from the Philippines, Vietnam could be the next BrahMos export customer as talks between the two countries have progressed. India has offered BrahMos to countries that have been facing increasing Chinese maritime adventurism in areas of the South China Sea and Indian Ocean Region. Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra, former Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the BrahMos Aerospace Limited recently while speaking to the media had said that as per NATO’s studies only Two BrahMos hits can sink any big class of warships and smaller warships can be taken down by one BrahMos hit.
