India-Philippines sign $375 million deal for sale of BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles
India and the Philippines, on Friday signed a $375 million deal for the sale of the BrahMos missile system for the Philippines Navy. According to government officials, the top defence brass of the Philippines was present for the event.
As reported earlier, the Philippines had, last month, accepted the proposal by BrahMos Aerospace Limited to supply Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile systems for the Philippines Navy. The contract award notice was uploaded by the Philippines Department of Defence on its official website.
“As head of procuring entity (HOPE), I recently signed the Notice of Award for the Philippine Navy Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile Acquisition Project. Negotiated with the Government of India, it includes the delivery of three batteries, training for operators and maintainers as well as the necessary Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package. Conceptualized as early as 2017, the Office of the President approved its inclusion in the Horizon 2 Priority Projects in 202,” Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had said last week.
Milestone development under Make-in-India programme
The development is being viewed as a major milestone for the government’s flagship Make in India (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) programme. Developed jointly by India and Russia, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and BrahMos Aerospace have been pushing for exports of BrahMos missile systems to friendly foreign nations.
Already in service with the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, BrahMos is a versatile missile system that can be deployed from land, sea and air. A nuclear-capable missile, the system is a major deterrant against external threats for the Indian armed forces.
