Page 32 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 Online Magazine
P. 32
Delfin. N. Lorenzana, Secretary, Department of National Defence [ LAND SYSTEMS ]
in Manila, in a note to BrahMos said that the latter’s proposal for
the Shore-based Anti-Ship Missile System Acquisition Project has
been accepted. India has been promoting the BrahMos missile to
Philippines for several years, though negotiations had been hit by
the pandemic. Recently Manila allocated 2.8 billion pesos (US$55.5
million) for initial funding for the weapon system.
The acquisition of the BrahMos missiles will be under a govern-
ment-to-government deal.
Done Deal
“The first export contract for the BrahMos medium-range ramjet
supersonic cruise missiles is likely to be signed with the Philippines
authorities by the end of this year. Once international travel is
First resumed, a joint committee that oversees defence logistics will
meet in Manila to discuss the modalities to conclude the deal by
the end of the year,” a senior Indian government official informs.
The Philippines’ department of budget management made two
“special allotment release orders” worth 1.3 billion pesos and 1.535
Buyer billion pesos on December 27, 2021, to cover the initial funding
requirements for the missile system.
Earlier last year, both countries had signed an “implementing
arrangement” to facilitate government-to-government deals on
military hardware and equipment, including the BrahMos missile.
Lorenzana, who witnessed the signing ceremony then had said the
agreement would serve as a guide for the two sides on policies
PHILIPPINES TO GET INDIA’S and procedures in defence procurement. The Philippines is aiming
BRAHMOS MISSILES at domestic defence modernisation and has been purchasing new
weapons and defence platforms from several countries including
South Korea.
Jay Menon
Export Potential
In what seems to be a first salvo in a new era According to analysts, the BrahMos will play a crucial role in its
of Indian defence policy in SouthEast Asia, coastal security upgradation especially against the external threat
India and the Philippines concluded a deal for from China. The Philippines is expected to deploy the BrahMos
the sale of three batteries of BrahMos cruise supersonic missiles near the South China Sea. Defence analysts
missiles. Manila has become the first export opine that though BrahMos is a landmark acquisition for the
customer of the Indo-Russian cruise missile Philippines, it is unlikely to significantly alter the balance of military
after it accepted a proposal from BrahMos to power in the region, given China's deployment of the state-of-the-
buy the weapon at a price of US$375 million art missile defence systems.
for the Philippine Navy.
BrahMos is a joint venture between DRDO of BrahMos is currently carrying out active marketing for these pow-
India and NPO Mashinostoyenia (NPOM) of erful anti-ship missiles in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, in
Russia. a total of 14 countries. The governments of India and Russia had
32 | January/February 2022 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT
