In a strategic advancement that is reverberating through geopolitical corridors, India has delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, marking the South Asian nation’s foray into the global arms market as a formidable exporter.

The BrahMos missile, developed jointly by India and Russia, has emerged as a potent tool in India’s defense arsenal and is now bolstering the military capabilities of its allies, with the Philippines being the first recipient of an export order.

The BrahMos, a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster and a liquid ramjet sustainer engine, is designed for precision strikes with a range of 290 kilometers and can be launched from various platforms, including land, sea, submarine, and air.

Capable of reaching Mach 3 speeds, the missile’s low flight time and “fire and forget” feature enhance its stealth and make interception by existing systems a significant challenge.

The BrahMos, which can operate at altitudes from 15 kilometers to a mere 10 meters, is armed with a conventional warhead weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms.

Its kinetic energy, augmented by supersonic speeds, delivers high lethal power upon impact.

It boasts “3 times more velocity, 2.5 to 3 times more flight range, 3 to 4 times more seeker range, and 9 times more kinetic energy” than subsonic cruise missiles, according to the BrahMos website.

India’s decision to export the BrahMos underscores its strategic objective to counter regional threats.

The missile system’s arrival in the Philippines comes at a time of heightened tension in the South China Sea and will considerably enhance the Philippine armed forces’ defensive posture.

The BrahMos system’s flexibility and advanced guidance system, incorporating inertial navigation, radar guidance, and satellite navigation, makes it a formidable asset for anti-ship and land-attack missions.

Continuous upgrades, including the development of extended range variants and a hypersonic version, signal ongoing enhancements to the BrahMos’s capabilities.

With India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, the missile’s range has been extended to 450 kilometers, with aspirations to reach beyond 600 kilometers.

This reflects India’s commitment to not only evolving its defense technologies but also adhering to international non-proliferation norms.

India’s strategic defense partnership with Russia and its assertive push into the defense export market with the BrahMos missile represent a significant shift in the regional power balance.

By empowering allies like the Philippines with advanced military capabilities, India is positioning itself as a key player in promoting a rules-based international order and ensuring peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Relevant articles:
– BrahMos: The Mach 3 Supersonic Missile Russia and India Built Together, The National Interest
– India delivers first batch of BrahMos to Philippines, thehindu.com
– Philippines to acquire Indian built Brahmos cruise missiles in January, Army Recognition
– Missile Threat, Missile Threat