The Philippines is set to purchase additional BrahMos supersonic missiles from India, aiming to reinforce its defensive capabilities amid rising regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during a five-day state visit to India, confirmed in an interview with Firstpost on Wednesday that the country is in the process of securing more units of the missile system. “I’ve spoken to the officers and men who operate the BrahMos system, and they say we need more,” Marcos said. “We are in the process of actually procuring more.”
The BrahMos is known as the world’s fastest supersonic anti-ship cruise missile, jointly developed by India and Russia through BrahMos Aerospace. The Philippines became its first international buyer after signing a P18.9-billion deal in December 2021 for three shore-based batteries.
While the Department of National Defense (DND) has not included the new batch in its 2025 budget, the procurement may be pushed through under the 2026 appropriations—pending congressional approval. If greenlit, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) could receive the new systems by 2028.
President Marcos emphasized that this move is part of the country’s ongoing military modernization efforts and not a preparation for war. “The Philippines is in the midst of modernization of our military and so we are looking to see what’s most suitable for our defensive needs,” he said. “Let me be clear, we are not gearing up for war; we are simply reacting to the challenges that we are facing.”
The BrahMos acquisition was initially part of the Philippine Navy’s modernization plans dating back to 2017. The Philippine Marines received the first delivery in April 2024, followed by another batch a year later. The Philippine Army is also eyeing the same missile system for its Land-Based Missile System Acquisition Project, though implementation has been delayed until 2027.
Former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier stated that the BrahMos missiles serve as a crucial deterrent, especially in the context of disputes in the West Philippine Sea. “As the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, the Brahmos missiles will provide deterrence against any attempt to undermine our sovereignty and sovereign rights,” he said after the 2021 procurement deal.
Tensions in the region remain high, with China strongly opposing missile deployments in the Philippines, claiming they worsen regional tensions and confrontation. In contrast, Marcos underscored the importance of working with like-minded nations to protect the rules-based international order.
“It has thus become the responsibility of all stakeholders—including the Philippines and India—to play a more active role in upholding, defending, and preserving our rules-based order,” he stated during a foreign policy address in New Delhi.
During his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, the two nations elevated their 75-year-old ties into a “strategic partnership,” pledging to deepen defense cooperation and collaborate across various sectors, particularly in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
