Will India-Philippines Strategic Partnership Lead to More Export Orders For BrahMos?
20:30 06.08.2025 (Updated: 12:37 07.08.2025)
© AP Photo / MANISH SWARUP
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Southeast Asia, including nations like the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, has emerged as a key market for Indian military equipment, with the first of the three already inking a multi-million dollar deal for the BrahMos missiles.
India and the Philippines on Tuesday announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two nations.
"The Strategic Partnership marks a new chapter towards realising the full potential for bilateral, regional and international cooperation between the two countries," a joint statement from the two countries said.
In the defence domain, the partnership will focus on "collaborating and cooperating in co-development and co-production of defence equipment, to achieve the goal of self-reliance in defence production, and encouraging investments and joint initiatives in the establishment of defence R&D, and supply chain ecosystem".
Following the signing of the strategic partnership agreement between New Delhi and Manila, chatter on social media in India and some media reports in the Southeast Asian archipelago suggested that the Philippines was on the verge of signing a fresh order for nine BrahMos missile batteries in addition to the previous $375 contract for three regiments of the widely-acclaimed supersonic weapons system.
Max Montero, a retired Philippine Navy officer, believes that the Philippines will be procuring another set of land-based anti-ship BrahMos missile batteries, this time for the Army, with the previous units being deployed by the country's Marine Corps.
Following the signing of the strategic partnership agreement between New Delhi and Manila, chatter on social media in India and some media reports in the Southeast Asian archipelago suggested that the Philippines was on the verge of signing a fresh order for nine BrahMos missile batteries in addition to the previous $375 contract for three regiments of the widely-acclaimed supersonic weapons system.
Max Montero, a retired Philippine Navy officer, believes that the Philippines will be procuring another set of land-based anti-ship BrahMos missile batteries, this time for the Army, with the previous units being deployed by the country's Marine Corps.
"Brahmos land-based anti-ship missile batteries for the Philippine Army, likely similar to what was already delivered to the Philippine Marine Corps," Montero posted on social media.
Among other Indian defense systems that the Philippines is interested in buying from India are its domestically developed Akash missile system and Dhruv helicopters.
"Akash surface-to-air missile, which is being offered to fill the air defense requirements of the Philippine Marines. Still need to confirm which Akash variant, but could likely be the original Akash or Akash 1S. Up to 3 batteries being eyed," he added.
The contract for the Akash missile is reportedly expected to be over $200 million.
Moreover, the acquisition of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Dhruv helicopters could be made for the Philippine Coast Guard, as there was an urgent requirement for 7 new ship-capable helicopters there, the Philippine Navy veteran stressed.
Interestingly, India has been actively pushing this deal and is also offering soft loans for the acquisition, Montero highlighted.
India and the Philippines are now in a firm alliance for the medium term, emphasised Miguel Miranda, a Manila-based aerospace and defence industry analyst.
But do not expect dramatic outcomes soon, as the Department of National Defense (DND) runs a very slow procurement cycle that follows a strict timetable and the usual pace of government decision-making, he told Sputnik India.
Moreover, the acquisition of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Dhruv helicopters could be made for the Philippine Coast Guard, as there was an urgent requirement for 7 new ship-capable helicopters there, the Philippine Navy veteran stressed.
Interestingly, India has been actively pushing this deal and is also offering soft loans for the acquisition, Montero highlighted.
India and the Philippines are now in a firm alliance for the medium term, emphasised Miguel Miranda, a Manila-based aerospace and defence industry analyst.
But do not expect dramatic outcomes soon, as the Department of National Defense (DND) runs a very slow procurement cycle that follows a strict timetable and the usual pace of government decision-making, he told Sputnik India.
"However, with the success of the Brahmos deliveries to the Philippine Navy, there's now a healthy appreciation for more partnerships. Despite that, the establishment of a maintenance depot for the BrahMos in the Philippines isn't feasible at this stage unless it's for the launchers and transporters — not the missiles per se," Miranda noted.
Though India-Philippines prospects are certainly encouraging, Manila has a network of allies it wants to build up all at the same time, he concluded.
