Page 9 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2023 Online Magazine

COASTAL

DETERRENCE

Coastal defence systems have moved up the priority lists
of militaries in the Asia Pacific region

By ATUL CHANDRA

ountries across the Asia Pacific region are Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long
investing heavily in coastal surveillance and range) {NGMMCB (LR)} to enhance the strike capability of
capabilities to combat seaborne threats to its coastal defences. The order for the missiles was placed
their coastline. New weapon systems and in March 2023 at an approximate cost of over Rs 17 billion.
C radars are being acquired to upgrade exist- The delivery of NGMMCBs is scheduled to commence from
ing coastal defences or develop new coastal defence 2027.
networks. The new generation systems being acquired are
a dramatic advance over their predecessors in terms of The Philippines became the first BrahMos export customer,
capability and lethality for missile systems, while advanced when it formally placed an order for the supersonic cruise
radars fitted on shore-based sites and on maritime patrol missile system in January 2022. The Philippine contract
aircraft offer unmatched detection ranges for surface tar- with BrahMos aerospace private limited (BAPL) for the
gets. shore based anti-ship missile systems is valued at approx-
imately Rs 28 billion (US$ 375 million). BAPL is slated to
Secured Coast begin deliveries of the missile systems to the Philippines in
December this year. They will be operated by the Coastal
The Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic Mach 3 capable Defence Regiment of the Philippine Marines. The Philippine
cruise missile is emerging as a preferred weapon system department of defence (DND) has also contracted BAPL to
for coastal defences and has already been selected by undertake training for operators, maintainers and an inte-
India and the Philippines. India has opted for BrahMos grated logistics support (ILS) package. BrahMos Aerospace
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023 | 9