The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is the first export customer and the only user of the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system in the region. The first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and their launchers were delivered to the Philippines in April, this year onboard an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 heavylift transporter. It is understood that the Philippines will differ from India in having two missiles per launcher as compared to the three for the former.
The induction of the BrahMos will enormously increase the AFP’s maritime strike capability in littoral and high sea environments. Along with its associated systems, the BrahMos cruise missile complex can ensure real-time monitoring, detection and tracking of potential targets in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), and their swift engagement from beyond radar horizon ranges. The operationalisation of the BrahMos supersonic missile system into the AFP will also be keenly watched by Indonesia and Vietnam, which are also seriously considering inducting the weapon system.
The BrahMos missile is considered superior to the most popular subsonic missiles in the world, in terms of velocity (> 3 times), in flight range (> 2.5 – 3 times), in seeker range (> 3 – 4 times) and in kill energy by nine times. A BrahMos missile depending on its configuration, can carry a conventional warhead weighing between 200 – 300 kg. The multi-role BrahMos has been operationalized in land-to-land, land-to-sea, sea-to-coast, coast-to-sea, air-to-land and air-to-sea configurations.
It was in January 2022, that the Philippines announced a deal with BAPL valued at approximately US$ 375 million for three missile batteries to be operated by the Coastal Defence Regiment of the Philippine Marines along with training for operators and maintainers as well as an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package. The Philippines formally conceptualised its requirement for the advanced weapon system in 2017 and it was approved by the Office of the Philippine President for inclusion in the Horizon 2 Priority Projects in 2020. Philippine industry could also soon receive industrial participation in the programme as well. The AFP is in the middle of a 15-year modernisation programme that commenced in 2012 and is being completed in three phases: Horizon I (2012-2017), Horizon II (2018-2022), and Horizon III (2023-2027).
Export customers will also benefit from India’s large orders for BrahMos which will ensure economies of scale.. BAPL officials say they are confident of not only of meeting the armed forces requirements from these nations but also those of other countries in the region. In March 2023, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) inked a contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) for procurement of Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long range) {NGMMCB (LR)} and BrahMos Missiles at an approximate cost of over US$200 million.
The naval variant of the BrahMos is the Indian Navy’s primary weapon for maritime strike operations and is fitted onboard various frontline warships. The system is capable of hitting land or sea targets from extended ranges with pinpoint accuracy at supersonic speeds. Today, BAPL claims indigenization levels of 75 percent for the BrahMos missile system which has an Indian built propulsion system, airframe, power supply and other major indigenous components. In comparison, the indigenization level was only 13 percent when the joint-development programme with Russia first commenced.
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