India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Philippines on April 19. An IAF C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft and a chartered aircraft delivered the missile system to the Philippines Marine Corps.
Key points
- In January 2022, Philippines concluded a $375-million deal with India for three batteries of shore-based, anti-ship variant of the BrahMos becoming the first export customer for the joint venture missile between India and Russia.
- Philippines is acquiring the systems under the Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Programme.
BrahMos
- BrahMos is a joint venture between DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya and the missile derives its name from Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
- The missile is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against surface and sea-based targets.
- The supersonic cruise missile has been operationalised in all three wings of the Indian armed forces.
- The range of the missile was originally capped at 290km as per obligations of the Missile Technology Control Regime.
- Following India’s entry into the club in June 2016, the range has been extended to 450km and work is on to extend it to 600km and beyond.
