India Offers to Co-develop Advanced Weapon Systems with Philippines to Counter Chinese Assertiveness in South China Sea

In a move aimed at bolstering defence ties and countering China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, India has offered to co-develop advanced weapon systems with the Philippines. This significant development comes amidst heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and reflects a growing strategic convergence between the two nations.

India's Defence Secretary, Giridhar Aramane, extended the offer during the fifth bilateral Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting held in Manila on September 11, 2024. This initiative aligns with the Philippines' "Self-Reliance Defence Posture Act," which focuses on modernizing its armed forces.

The offer encompasses a wide range of potential collaborations, including the co-development of:

• BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile: Building upon the recent sale of the BrahMos to the Philippines, India proposes joint development of future variants, potentially with longer ranges or ship-launched capabilities, tailored to the Philippines' specific maritime defence needs.
• Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System: This indigenous air defence system could be enhanced with extended range or integrated with the Philippines' existing defence architecture, providing a robust layered defence against aerial threats.
• Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher: This versatile artillery platform could be adapted to the Philippines' terrain and operational requirements, including the development of guided rocket variants for increased precision.
• Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas: India's indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet presents a cost-effective option for the Philippines to modernize its air force and potentially establish a domestic aerospace industry.
• Advanced Torpedo Systems: Given the Philippines' maritime security focus, co-development of torpedo systems optimized for coastal defence and anti-submarine warfare could significantly enhance its naval capabilities.
• Armored Vehicles and Infantry Fighting Vehicles: India's expertise in armored vehicle development could be leveraged to create vehicles tailored to the diverse terrains of the Philippines, bolstering its ground forces.

This collaborative approach not only provides the Philippines with access to advanced defence technologies but also fosters self-reliance through technology transfer and indigenous production capabilities.

The Philippines has welcomed the proposal and expressed interest in long-term equity partnerships with Indian defence companies to ensure secure supply chains.

This deepening defence partnership between India and the Philippines underscores the growing concerns over China's actions in the South China Sea. By enhancing the Philippines' defence capabilities, this cooperation aims to promote regional stability and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In addition to co-development, the two nations are also strengthening defence cooperation through initiatives like the "white shipping information exchange" and the upcoming opening of a defence wing at the Indian embassy in Manila. This multifaceted approach signifies a deepening strategic partnership between India and the Philippines in the face of shared security challenges.

 

[Anant]

1. BrahMos: Won't happen given that Russia is still a major stakeholder in the entire venture.

2. Akash SAM: Definitely doable. If we do go for an extended range Akash system, and someone decides to maybe canisterise the missile, then this could be something to be offered given the Philippines' need for low-cost SRSAMs and MRSAMs.

3. Pinaka MBRL: Probably not a viable weapon for the Philippines. MBRLs are good for striking targets at a distance over land. The Philippines is an archipelago, and short of firing long-range guided rockets (essentially, ballistic missiles) from the system, something like the Pinaka isn't of much use to the Phillipines.

4. LCA Tejas: Yeah, lets not even go there. We can't build the Tejas for ourselves, so even contemplating exports is nonsensical. Moreover, the Philippines looks set on either the Gripen or the F-16 for their MRF needs, and the Tejas offer is a distant third, if at all.

5. ASW torpedoes: Definitely a very useful weapon for the Philippines, and something that they could both afford and utilise.

6. AVs and IFVs: The Philippine Army's present stock of these systems is both old and outdated. As such, they could look into platforms like WhAP as a replacement. That said, a full production line may not entirely be feasible given the small production run (~250 vehicles).

 

[Robert Mathew]

The idea of looking for partners for joint ventures sounds prudent. But selecting the partners is more paramount than joining with all those who express intensions to join hands with India. India's advancement should be the salient factor which demands India to be self reliant and a prospective arms exporter. Therefore, those willing friends of India should be ready to invest and bring in advanced technology along with them. India must join with those who can bring advanced technology into the country, train Indian engineers and technicians to master the intricacies and produce war machines that out wits other arms producers. Therein lies the progress.

 

[Sudha]

And philippines is a satellite of the hypocritic & unreliable US. US then would not need spies for they will get info of Bharat's military equipments from phillipines. Hope there is a good tamper proof security in Brahmos.