Philippines to Receive BrahMos Cruise Missiles on April 19

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is gearing up to receive its first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems from India on April 19, 2024.

A source privy to the delivery of the BrahMos missiles confirmed to the Manila Bulletin that they are scheduled to arrive at Clark International Airport on the specified date.

The decision to procure the BrahMos missile systems was initiated in 2017 and subsequently approved by the Office of the President in 2020 under the "Horizon" 2 Priority Projects of the AFP's modernization program. The move was prompted by escalating tensions due to Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

Former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana awarded the Philippine Navy's "Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile" (SBASM) Acquisition Project to BrahMos Aerospace—a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russian rocket design bureau NPO Mashinostroyeniya—on December 31, 2021. The project, valued at approximately $375 million (P18.9 billion), aims to bolster the Philippine Marine Corps' (PMC) defense capabilities.

The BrahMos missile boasts a flight range of up to 290 kilometers. It offers shorter flight times, minimal target dispersion, and swift engagement capabilities.

The acquisition, facilitated through a government-to-government agreement, includes the delivery of three missile batteries, comprehensive training for operators and maintainers, and the provision of an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package. Each missile battery typically comprises three mobile autonomous launchers with multiple missile tubes and associated tracking systems.

To prepare for the integration of the BrahMos missile into the PMC's operations, 21 Filipino Marines underwent specialized training in India in February 2023 to acquire the necessary skills for operating and maintaining the SBASM system.