News Brief
India Eyes Second Major Defence Deal With Philippines, Over $200 Million Akash Missile Export On Cards: Report
DRDO successfully flight-tests surface-to-air missile Akash-NG. (DRDO/Twitter) (Representative Image)
India is likely to secure a defence export contract worth over $200 million with the Philippines for the sale of Akash short-range surface-to-air missiles, Reuters reported citing sources.
If finalised, this would mark India’s second major weapons deal with Manila, reinforcing strategic defence ties amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea.
The Philippine military has reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the Akash missile system, which has a range of up to 25 km and is designed to intercept aerial threats.
Manila intends to place an order in the upcoming fiscal year beginning April 2025, Reuters reported citing three sources.
The deal is expected to be larger than India's $230 million Akash missile export to Armenia in 2023, but specific details regarding the number of missiles and radar systems remain undisclosed.
Bharat Dynamics Ltd., the manufacturer of Akash, showcased the system at last year’s Asian Defense and Security Exhibition in Manila, highlighting India’s growing focus on Southeast Asian defense markets.
The Philippines' armed forces chief, General Romeo Brawner, recently announced that the country plans to acquire more BrahMos systems and at least two submarines as part of an extensive military modernisation programme.
With escalating tensions between China and the Philippines over maritime disputes in the South China Sea, Manila has been strengthening its defence capabilities through international partnerships.
India, historically a major arms importer, has been aggressively expanding its defence exports in recent years.
The country’s defence exports surged by nearly 150 per cent since 2020, reaching $2.4 billion in Financial Year (FY) 2023-24.
Despite this growth, India’s arms exports remain lower than those of China, South Korea, and Australia.
