According to Josel Francisco Ignacio, the ambassador of the Philippines to India, the Brahmos missiles that his nation purchased from India significantly strengthened its defense and deterrence capabilities. A $375 million agreement has been reached by the Philippines to buy three BrahMos missile system batteries from India.
During a media briefing hosted by ORF, the ambassador stated, “In 2022, the Philippines and Brahmos signed a missile deal that represents a significant achievement for both nations.” It is revolutionary for the Philippines.” On April 19, 2024, the first shipment of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile export version from India touched down in the Philippines.
He emphasized, saying, “We have credible defense and deterrent capabilities with Brahmos. The fact that this is the first time the Brahmos have been sent outside is significant for India since it confirms the country’s growing military sector and developing capabilities. Thus, it increases India’s global reach in defense capabilities. Collaborating with Brahmos in India to ensure the complete fulfillment of the agreement.”
The BrahMos missile is a supersonic cruise missile with a maximum speed of 2.8 Mach that was developed collaboratively by Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya and India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
Ambassador Ignacio went into depth on how the acquisition fits into his nation’s modernization goals. He noted, “The Philippines has considered India as one of the primary suppliers of defense equipment for the upgrading of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP. The third phase of our Armed Forces’ updated modernization program, which is centered on archipelago defense, is under underway. In order to protect our entitlements and our EEZ, we are seeking to acquire ships, airplanes, radar guns, and other equipment.
