NEW DELHI / MANILA: India and the Philippines are in the final stages of negotiating a second BrahMos supersonic cruise missile contract. It would significantly expand Manila’s coastal defence capabilities as tensions persist in the South China Sea, according to Indian sources cited in media reports.
The Philippines is expected to acquire about five BrahMos systems, comprising nearly 60 missiles. The deal is reportedly valued at $700 million to $800 million, roughly ₹7,100 crore at the upper end. No agreement has been formally signed, and neither government has announced a final contract.
The proposed purchase is about double the size of the first order. In January 2022, Manila signed a $374.96 million contract with BrahMos Aerospace for shore-based anti-ship missile batteries. That was then India’s largest-ever export of weapons. Deliveries under the 2022 deal began in April 2024 and are scheduled to be completed this year.
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. It travels at around Mach 2.8 to 3. The export variant supplied to the Philippines has a reported range of about 290 km, with three missiles per mobile launcher.
Analysts at the Observer Research Foundation note that batteries deployed in Zambales and Luzon could cover key flashpoints, including Scarborough Shoal. Manila has been modernising its armed forces and strengthening coastal defences amid repeated maritime confrontations with China.
The proposed deal comes as India’s defence exports reach record levels. Exports rose 62 per cent to ₹38,424 crore in the 2025-26 financial year. Vietnam is reportedly finalising a separate deal of about $700 million for five BrahMos batteries, and other countries are said to be exploring purchases.