India to Deliver More BrahMos Missiles to Philippines as Order Doubles

As tensions simmer in the South China Sea, the Philippines is making bold moves to strengthen its coastal defense. On the heels of its first successful deployment of the BrahMos missile system, Manila is now exploring a significant expansion of its arsenal—eyeing up to nine additional BrahMos batteries.

This comes amid President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s landmark five-day state visit to India, his first since assuming office, aimed at deepening strategic, defense, and trade ties with New Delhi.

Focus on Defense and Maritime Security

During the visit, both nations placed strong emphasis on maritime security and defense cooperation. High on the agenda is the potential acquisition of more BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems, a move seen as part of the Philippines’ broader push to enhance its deterrent posture in the face of growing regional instability.

In April 2025, India delivered the second batch of BrahMos systems to the Philippines, following an initial shipment in April 2024. These deliveries are part of a $375 million deal signed in January 2022 for three missile batteries. The proposed new order—potentially adding up to nine more batteries—would mark a dramatic escalation of the Philippines’ defense capabilities under its Horizon Modernization Program Phase 2.

Strengthening Strategic Partnerships

The expansion of the BrahMos deal is not occurring in isolation. It is tied to a broader web of regional and strategic dynamics. India is positioning itself as a key defense partner to nations confronting assertive Chinese activities in the Indo-Pacific.

In a first, three Indian Navy warships are currently participating in maritime exercises in Philippine waters—an unprecedented show of cooperation and presence.

BrahMos: A Proven Force Multiplier

The BrahMos missile is widely recognized as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.8–3.5 and striking targets up to 800 km away depending on the variant. A joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the missile is deployable across platforms—land, air, sea, and submarine—and is known for its precision and fire-and-forget capability.

Its combat credibility was showcased most recently in Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, where BrahMos missiles were used to strike terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK, reinforcing its operational value.

In parallel, India and Russia are also in talks to locally manufacture ramjet engines for BrahMos and the next-generation BrahMos-NG systems, further boosting indigenous capability and reducing foreign dependence.

BrahMos: A Growing Global Export Success

India’s timely delivery and the Philippines’ successful operationalization of the BrahMos system have further boosted the missile’s export profile. Multiple Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern nations are reportedly in discussions with BrahMos Aerospace for future sales, marking a milestone in India’s ambitions as a global defense exporter.

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