What happened?
India has shipped the second battery of its BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to the Philippines, as part of a $375 million deal signed in 2022. Unlike the first delivery via an Indian Air Force aircraft, this shipment was transported by sea. The BrahMos missile, developed jointly by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, is capable of flying at nearly three times the speed of sound (Mach 2.8) and can be launched from land, sea, and air. There is also a plan to increase the indigenous components of the missile to 83%.
Why it matters to India
The export of the BrahMos missile to the Philippines, and the interest from other ASEAN and Gulf nations, highlights India’s growing role as a major arms exporter. This strategic shift in defence diplomacy strengthens India’s ties with Southeast Asian countries and enhances its influence in a region where China has a strong presence.
