BrahMos Cruise Missile Delivered to Philippines – A First for India

The Indian Air Force recently dispatched its American-origin C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft to deliver missiles to the Philippines’ Marine Corps. During the delivery of the BrahMos missile system, Indian officials presented sweets to the Philippines Marine Corps officers. The export of ground systems for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, together with the missiles, commenced last month. This delivery comes at a critical time, as tensions between the Philippines and China have intensified due to frequent clashes in the South China Sea.

The Philippines plans to deploy the three batteries of the BrahMos missile system in their coastal areas to protect against potential threats in the region. The deal has received multiple approvals from partner nations in the program. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. It is considered one of the most successful missile programs globally and has significantly enhanced India’s deterrence capabilities.

The Indian Army has integrated multiple BrahMos regiments into its arsenal since 2007. Comprising a two-stage solid propellant booster engine and a liquid ramjet engine, the BrahMos missile achieves supersonic speeds, reaching up to Mach 3 in the cruise phase. It is a versatile missile that can be launched from air, land, and sea platforms and operates on the ‘Fire and Forget principle’, maintaining high supersonic speed throughout the flight.