What Makes BrahMos India's Most Important Defence Export Products?
© AP Photo / MANISH SWARUP
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Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr recently confirmed that the archipelagic state was interested in acquiring additional units of the BrahMos missile following a previous $375 million procurement.
The Philippines' interest in acquiring additional BrahMos systems reflects a broader shift in its defence strategy towards strengthening coastal defence and developing credible deterrence capabilities in the South China Sea, an expert has said.
For the Philippines, maintaining sovereignty over its maritime claims requires more than conventional naval patrols; it needs the ability to impose significant operational costs on any potential aggressor, stated Harpreet Sidhu, an aerospace, defence and security analyst at GlobalData Plc, a London-based military data analytics firm.
For the Philippines, maintaining sovereignty over its maritime claims requires more than conventional naval patrols; it needs the ability to impose significant operational costs on any potential aggressor, stated Harpreet Sidhu, an aerospace, defence and security analyst at GlobalData Plc, a London-based military data analytics firm.
"BrahMos offers the Philippines a combination of capabilities that directly address this requirement. Its supersonic speed, long engagement range, sea-skimming flight profile and high-precision strike capability make it a formidable anti-ship weapon. It significantly reduces the reaction time available to an adversary's naval vessels and air-defence systems, making interception more challenging," Sidhu told Sputnik India.
Another important consideration is the system's operational flexibility. The Philippines initially acquired the shore-based coastal defence variant, which allows it to deploy mobile missile batteries along strategically important coastlines and maritime approaches. These systems can threaten hostile surface vessels without requiring the Philippines to maintain a large blue-water navy, he added.
There is also a strong element of strategic and defence-industrial partnership with India. The acquisition provides Manila with access to a relatively advanced missile capability while diversifying its defence procurement relationships. It also supports the Philippines' ongoing military modernisation programme, particularly its emphasis on territorial defence rather than solely internal security operations, the military commentator explained.
There is also a strong element of strategic and defence-industrial partnership with India. The acquisition provides Manila with access to a relatively advanced missile capability while diversifying its defence procurement relationships. It also supports the Philippines' ongoing military modernisation programme, particularly its emphasis on territorial defence rather than solely internal security operations, the military commentator explained.
"Moreover, the use of BrahMos during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict is particularly significant for its international marketing. It has brought greater attention to the missile's operational capabilities and demonstrated that India is willing and able to employ sophisticated indigenous and jointly developed weapon systems in a high-intensity military environment," Sidhu underscored.
For potential buyers, this provides an additional layer of confidence in the system’s maturity, operational integration and reliability. Defence procurement decisions are not based solely on speed, range or warhead specifications; governments also consider whether a weapon can be integrated into existing command-and-control structures, maintained effectively and operated under demanding conditions, he noted.
The strategic affairs pundit believes that there are three important implications for BrahMos exports:
The strategic affairs pundit believes that there are three important implications for BrahMos exports:
"First, greater buyer confidence. Combat experience provides valuable operational credibility. It can help address questions about system reliability, deployment readiness and performance that prospective customers might otherwise have reservations about," Sidhu emphasised.
Second, stronger international positioning. BrahMos occupies a relatively specialised segment of the market: supersonic cruise missiles designed for precision strikes against surface targets and, depending on the variant, land targets. Its combat exposure could help distinguish it from competing subsonic cruise missile systems and other anti-ship weapons, he highlighted.
Third, increased strategic appeal. Countries facing maritime security challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, may view BrahMos as an important component of their coastal defence and deterrence strategies. The Philippines' interest, alongside India's defence engagements with other Southeast Asian countries, illustrates the potential for a wider market, the defence specialist underlined.
Third, increased strategic appeal. Countries facing maritime security challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, may view BrahMos as an important component of their coastal defence and deterrence strategies. The Philippines' interest, alongside India's defence engagements with other Southeast Asian countries, illustrates the potential for a wider market, the defence specialist underlined.
"However, combat experience alone does not guarantee export success. Pricing, production capacity, delivery schedules, technology-transfer arrangements, political considerations and long-term maintenance support will remain equally important in determining actual procurement decisions," Sidhu reckoned.
In the longer term, BrahMos could become one of India's most important defence export products, helping the country move beyond being primarily a defence importer towards becoming a more established supplier of advanced missile technology, he stressed.
Ultimately, BrahMos is attractive because it provides the Philippines with a credible sea-denial capability: the ability to deter or complicate an adversary's naval operations without having to match that adversary ship for ship, the observer summed up.
Ultimately, BrahMos is attractive because it provides the Philippines with a credible sea-denial capability: the ability to deter or complicate an adversary's naval operations without having to match that adversary ship for ship, the observer summed up.
