Watch: First Time India Delivers BrahMos Cruise Missile to the Philippines

The Indian Air Force has dispatched its American-origin C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft with missiles to the Philippines for delivering the BrahMos missile system to the Philippines Marine Corps. As a gesture of goodwill, Indian officials presented sweets to the officers of the Philippines Marine Corps upon the delivery.

The export of ground systems for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, along with the missiles, commenced last month. The delivery of the missile systems to the Philippines comes at a time of escalating tensions between the Philippines and China due to recurring conflicts in the South China Sea.

The Philippines plans to deploy the three batteries of the BrahMos missile system in its coastal areas to safeguard against potential threats in the region. The deal has received multiple approvals from partner nations in the programme.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is recognized as one of the most successful missile programs globally. It has significantly augmented India’s deterrence capabilities and has been integrated into the Indian Army’s arsenal since 2007.

The BrahMos missile is specifically designed to have a two-stage propulsion system, with a solid propellant booster engine accelerating it to supersonic speed in the initial stage, and a liquid ramjet engine propelling it closer to Mach 3 speed in the cruise phase. It can be deployed from multiple platforms, including air, land, and sea, and operates on the ‘Fire and Forget’ principle, meaning it doesn’t require further guidance after launch, maintaining supersonic speed throughout its flight.