The Philippines could become the first international customer of the acclaimed BrahMos cruise missiles if everything goes as planned. The BrahMos system is a supersonic cruise missile system developed by India in collaboration with Russia. Reports say that the two countries are set to conclude the deal during a summit between PM Modi and President Duterte planned early next year.
When the deal goes through, the Philippines will become the first country to acquire the BrahMos missile system. Talks have been going on with many other prospective buyers, including Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, to sell land and sea-based versions of the supersonic cruise missile.
Hindustan Times reports that BrahMos Aerospace that produces the weapons system is expected to send its team to visit Manila by December to “sort out a few remaining issues for the deal to supply the missiles to the Philippines Army’s first Land-Based Missile System Battery.” The planned meeting between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to take place sometime in February. The two countries are expected to sign several other agreements in defence, manufacturing and mutual interest areas during the Summit.
The Philippines Army selected BrahMos following extensive trials. The Philippines has been planning to equip its army with a Land-Based Missile System Battery since last year and conducted trials of various missile systems including BrahMos. The BrahMos weapons system is set to be delivered to the Philippines Army’s first Land Based Missile System Battery.
About BrahMos
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile being developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia. The missile can be launched against ships and land-based targets. The missile is named after two rivers, the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in Russia.
BrahMos has a flight range of up to 290km and can reach a maximum speed of Mach 3. The air launched version of the missile is under development as of 2013.
Advanced satellite navigation systems from Russia’s Kh-555 and Kh-101 strategic long-range cruise missiles, and GPS-GLONASS technology were added to the existing doppler-inertial platforms of BrahMos missiles in 2013. The missile can be installed on ships, submarines, aircraft and ground vehicles. BrahMos missiles are inducted into the armed forces of India and Russia and can also be exported to friendly nations.
The ‘Fire and Forget’ type missile weights 3t and intercepts surface targets at an altitude of 10m up to 14,000m. In February 2011, the Indian Army placed a $4bn order with BrahMos Aerospace for BrahMos missiles. Deliveries are expected to conclude by 2016. The total value of orders placed by the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force for BrahMos missiles was approximately $9bn as of March 2013.
Balaji Subramanian 
Dhruv Ashok 
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