India Sends Second Batch of BrahMos Missiles to the Philippines

India has dispatched a second tranche of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to the Philippines, strengthening defense ties between the two nations.

• This follows the delivery of the first of three missile batteries in 2024, under a $375 million deal signed in 2022—the first export order for the BrahMos system.

• Jointly developed by India and Russia, the BrahMos missile can reach speeds of Mach 2.8 and strike targets up to 290 kilometers away.

• Designed for deployment from land, sea, and air platforms, the shore-based anti-ship variants are now part of the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment.

• Their induction marks a significant boost to Manila’s maritime defense capabilities, especially amid increasing Chinese incursions into its exclusive economic zone.