India Prepares to Deliver 3rd and Final Consignment of BrahMos Missiles to Philippines by Year End

In a significant development for Southeast Asian regional security, India is in the final stages of dispatching the third and concluding batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines.

This shipment, anticipated to arrive before the end of 2025, will complete the historic $375 million (approximately ₹3,100 crore) defence contract established between the two nations in January 2022.

As New Delhi’s inaugural major export of lethal weaponry, this successful delivery not only cements the Indo-Russian joint venture’s status as a formidable global supplier but also highlights India’s emerging role as a key exporter of advanced defence technology.

The logistical rollout of this strategic capability has been methodical.

The first battery was airlifted via Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster and Il-76 transport aircraft in April 2024, allowing for immediate induction by the Philippine Marine Corps' Coastal Defence Regiment. A second battery followed by sea in April 2025, further bolstering Manila’s archipelagic security architecture.

With the imminent arrival of the third battery, the Philippines is set to operationalise a complete triad of shore-based anti-ship missile systems. These units possess the capability to launch precision strikes at speeds of Mach 2.8 with a range of 290 kilometres, providing a critical counterbalance for the Philippine Navy against increasingly assertive maritime activities in the region.

Confirmation of the delivery schedule came from BrahMos Aerospace CEO and Managing Director, Jaiteerth Joshi.

Speaking to Russian media in September, Joshi affirmed that the programme remains firmly on schedule, overcoming earlier logistical challenges such as complex non-disclosure agreements. He emphasised that the agreement extends beyond the mere transfer of hardware, describing it as a "partnership in precision firepower."

The comprehensive package includes operator training, integrated logistics support, and the provision of high-mobility Tatra 6×6 launcher vehicles, which have been specifically adapted to navigate the tropical topography of the Philippine archipelago.

For the Philippine defence establishment, the acquisition represents a transformative leap in capability. Each missile battery functions as a self-contained unit comprising mobile autonomous launchers, advanced fire-control radars, and command-and-control centres.

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has previously described the system as a "cornerstone" of the nation's military modernisation efforts.

Following the second delivery, Philippine forces conducted live-fire exercises alongside Indian trainers to simulate engagement scenarios against hostile vessels.

By early 2026, all three batteries are expected to be fully networked, creating a robust, multi-layered defensive shield under Horizon 3 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP).

As the final preparations take place at the BrahMos facility in Nagpur—involving the canisterisation of missiles and calibration of radar systems—the shipment carries profound geopolitical weight.

In a maritime theatre where freedom of navigation is frequently contested, India’s supply of supersonic capability to Manila serves as a tangible demonstration of strategic solidarity. It sends a clear diplomatic signal regarding New Delhi’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

With the complete BrahMos system soon to be active on Philippine shores, the deployment stands as a decisive check against expansionism and a testament to India’s resolve to actively shape the regional security dynamic.

 

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[Pirthpall Sekhon]

A similar package for Brunei Darussalam with iron tight guarantees from the British Gurkha Regiment loaned to Brunei to guard against proliferation into non state players or terrorism link states could be carefully crafted because Brunei has a far flung island that is protected by Malaysian East China Sea contested islands. Brunei is the soft spot in the South China Sea contested space with its vast number of oil and gas platforms dotting the area. I have personally worked on and around them. Linking up and protecting with ASEAN countries has got to become India's priority. Brunei is the richest and militarily the weakest.