BrahMos Missiles Will Significantly Boost Philippines' Coastal Defence and Deterrent Against China

India's delivery of the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines marks a significant turning point in Southeast Asian maritime security.

This landmark deal, valued at an estimated $375 million, equips the Philippines with a cutting-edge weapon system renowned for its speed and precision, boasting a range of approximately 290 kilometers (180 miles).

This land-based variant could potentially extend the Philippines' defensive reach into the South China Sea, encompassing a considerable portion of this strategically vital region.

The BrahMos missiles are expected to serve as a powerful deterrent against potential aggressors, contributing to regional stability and promoting peaceful resolutions to maritime disputes.

While the exact specifications of the missiles delivered to the Philippines may remain classified, the overall impact is undeniable. The BrahMos system empowers the Philippines with a formidable tool to protect its maritime interests and maintain a strong defensive posture.

This deal also signifies the deepening relationship between India and the Philippines, who have been actively collaborating on defence and security matters.

This missile agreement serves as a testament to their shared commitment to regional stability. It aligns with the Philippines' ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and enhance its defence capabilities, following other significant procurements such as fighter jets and frigates.

Defence analysts view this development as a significant shift in the regional security landscape, with the BrahMos missiles expected to significantly enhance the Philippines' deterrence capabilities and provide a credible counterbalance to potential threats in the region.

As the Philippines integrates the BrahMos system into its defence infrastructure, its impact on regional dynamics will be closely watched, potentially reshaping maritime security calculations in Southeast Asia and contributing to a more stable and secure environment.

 

[Bhishma]

Their CIWS wouldn't work because of the very fast speed and evasive manoeuvre it takes before hitting the target like moving in a S flight path or the missile shoots up and hits the ship from the top. These two manoeuvre and very fast speed makes it very very hard to hit it.

whole thing seems bogus to me. i doubt they even have that capability. because their advertised YJ12 brahmos equivalent - look closely, it doesnt have any air intakes. which means its just a subsonic like Tomahawk. so if they didnt even have a supersonic ASM, how could they have tested it ?

even going by their specs, we are looking at 2-3 seconds reaction time. even if they hit, a 2.5ton missile travelling at mach 3 is NOT going to stop. its like shooting a train with AK47 and hoping it will stop.

 

[Bhishma]

Not difficult at all... Chinese satellites detect movements, heat signatures & infra red ID. China has hundreds of 'military satellites' monitoring the area .. specially now the ME & the ASEAN region.

quick bro, delete this comment. you have given away some key military secrets of PLA. imagine what would happen if Philippines military planners saw this.

 

[Sandeep]

whole thing seems bogus to me. i doubt they even have that capability. because their advertised YJ12 brahmos equivalent - look closely, it doesnt have any air intakes. which means its just a subsonic like Tomahawk. so if they didnt even have a supersonic ASM, how could they have tested it ?

even going by their specs, we are looking at 2-3 seconds reaction time. even if they hit, a 2.5ton missile travelling at mach 3 is NOT going to stop. its like shooting a train with AK47 and hoping it will stop.

China lies a lot about their technology and weapons capabilities but in reality they don't perform as they market their weapons. Every country like Pakistan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Thailand have bought key items from frigates, jets, submarines, engines and tanks et. In every item the technology is unreliable, faulty, doesn't work very well, poor expensive spare parts, expensive maintenance etc so they lie about it and use information warfare by claiming it can do something or provide it but it can't.

 

[BCharlie]

you park it underground in a hotel. have 10 other decoys all painted in civilian colours (like a Los Pollos Hermanos truck). repeat and rinse, China will lose track of it.

Sirji, thats the difference. What you said is correct & applicable to our military tech in tracking, detection & neutralizing a threat .. We or for that matter them Pilpinos would be taken by surprise by them Chinese.. Never underestimate your enemy & think you are more clever. This enemy may surprise you...;

 

[Sandeep]

It's good that we are trying to find buyers as the Brahmos missile is very lethal. This will boost Philippines defence capabilities by giving them a offensive missile system rather than just using it for defence as most of the arms purchases have solely been to defend their country. What the smaller countries around China need is lethal offensive weapons and capabilities so it can inflict severe damage to their Chinese ships if needed. We should also try to sell it to the army so it can take out any Chinese advanced weaponry it brings if China ever attacks Philippines.

 

[BCharlie]

quick bro, delete this comment. you have given away some key military secrets of PLA. imagine what would happen if Philippines military planners saw this.

So you think its funny.. Yes ?? Lets hope it doesn't come on headon our or Pilpinsa face ... We can joke here, but reality is very harsh. .

 

[Ajath Shri]

Not difficult at all... Chinese satellites detect movements, heat signatures & infra red ID. China has hundreds of 'military satellites' monitoring the area .. specially now the ME & the ASEAN region.

Satellites are not static. So it's quite difficult to spot the size of B R A H M O S launcher . Remember 1998 SHAKTHI Nuclear Test. US Satellites failed to detect Indian nuclear test preparation.
Chinese Drones are a a very big threat. Not satellites.

 

[Ajath Shri]

Sirji, thats the difference. What you said is correct & applicable to our military tech in tracking, detection & neutralizing a threat .. We or for that matter them Pilpinos would be taken by surprise by them Chinese.. Never underestimate your enemy & think you are more clever. This enemy may surprise you...;

And don't you think Philippines Navy wouldn't have factored Chinese ability ????

 

[Ajath Shri]

What about "things" other than only missiles & launchers that cannot be concealed? What about PLA persistent space surveillance capabilities?

Satellites are effective for spotting static and fairly a large size objects. Mobile launchers have flexibility to move from one position to another without any prior notice or totally to a new destination.
Now you tell us how can a satellite detect an object whose movement is un predictable. Drones are the only threat .

 

[Sutta Nath Shastri]

Satellites are effective for spotting static and fairly a large size objects. Mobile launchers have flexibility to move from one position to another without any prior notice or totally to a new destination.
Now you tell us how can a satellite detect an object whose movement is un predictable. Drones are the only threat .

➥ Each Brahmos MAL is 12×12 vehicle. MALs are not single isolated vehicles. They move in a "convoy".
➥What is the optical resolution of CARTOSAT satellite of India❓
➥SAR satellite (remote sensing), optical mapping, hyperspectral mapping, ELINT satellite......imaging fusion

 

[Sutta Nath Shastri]

you park it underground in a hotel. have 10 other decoys all painted in civilian colours (like a Los Pollos Hermanos truck). repeat and rinse, China will lose track of it.

➥ What about "things" other than only missiles & launchers that cannot be concealed under a hotel?
➥That was a " fiction tv series involving drugs". When "you park it underground in hotel", there will be some real world dire consequences too.
➥The hotel will be designated as a dual-use infra liable to be targeted. Attacking military may not wait for evacuation of civillians. That hotel is gone in a BM/CM strike.
➥ That's why military store their hardwares away from civilian facilities in hardened shelters protected by air cover

 

[Ajath Shri]

➥ Each Brahmos MAL is 12×12 vehicle. MALs are not single isolated vehicles. They move in a "convoy".
➥What is the optical resolution of CARTOSAT satellite of India❓
➥SAR satellite (remote sensing), optical mapping, hyperspectral mapping, ELINT satellite......imaging fusion

Mr. Shastri , do you think Philippines will inform Chinese about the time and road route of the Missile launcher ???
Here I am not disputing the capabilities of military satellites. It's all about being at the right place at the right time.
That's why I mentioned India's 1999 Pokhran Nuclear test which went undetected. It's all about time and secrecy.

 

[Sutta Nath Shastri]

Mr. Shastri , do you think Philippines will inform Chinese about the time and road route of the Missile launcher ???
Here I am not disputing the capabilities of military satellites. It's all about being at the right place at the right time.
That's why I mentioned India's 1999 Pokhran Nuclear test which went undetected. It's all about time and secrecy.

➥Why would Philippines tell PRC?...PRC is aatmanirbhar in HUMINT & ELINT through its CSF & ISF – in 4 domains.
➥1999 is 30 years old and window is shut. PRC has Yaogon satellites & others. Read it on ORF by Kartik Bommakanti.

 

[Bhishma]

➥ What about "things" other than only missiles & launchers that cannot be concealed under a hotel?
➥That was a " fiction tv series involving drugs". When "you park it underground in hotel", there will be some real world dire consequences too.
➥The hotel will be designated as a dual-use infra liable to be targeted. Attacking military may not wait for evacuation of civillians. That hotel is gone in a BM/CM strike.
➥ That's why military store their hardwares away from civilian facilities in hardened shelters protected by air cover

Its not that easy to just rely on sats and take off the assets. Its a cat and mouse game. Unless you have ground humint & solid intel, you cant rely purely on sats. Both parties know this and are prepared with counter measures. During Pokhran tests, we knew exactly how to play the Americans, because they relied purely on sats. As for things that cannot be concealed, such as radars - you build redundancy. Plus, if they are looking for ASM intel, India/US can provide it. This is an asymmetric warfare. One on one Ph have no chance of surviving. It has to be a combination of diplomacy, alliances, deterrence and cost. What is really China after - for now, they are looking for a "distraction war" to silence their internal dissent. Brahmos gives Philippines a breather. Because now, it will be more expensive and might backfire if China makes any moves on Ph.Even if one Brahmos lands on a carrier and punches a hole, it will be a huge embarrassment for PRC. So the question is, is china prepared to bear the cost and make the moves ? I dont think so.

 

[Bhishma]

➥Why would Philippines tell PRC?...PRC is aatmanirbhar in HUMINT & ELINT through its CSF & ISF – in 4 domains.
➥1999 is 30 years old and window is shut. PRC has Yaogon satellites & others. Read it on ORF by Kartik Bommakanti.

1. Truck mounted means it can be concealed from sats by masquerading as civilian trucks. You cannot rely on sats. The very reason why they went with trucks is so that you have high mobility & difficult to track. Lets just say it has been factored in.
2. Decoys - If china is specifically looking for Brahmos MAL, its easy to divert them with cheap inexpensive decoys.
3. Even to strike, you need to get close. What exactly is China is going to use ? Fighter jets - need to beat the SAMs. Drone strikes - vulnerable to variety of things. Cruise missile strikes - have to deal with ADs.
4. Once China expresses the intent, they will have to be prepared for counter strike. My guess is they have 1/10 success rate in taking out Brahmos. So if they fail, the Brahmos will take out one of their assets.