First Batch Of BrahMos Missiles To Reach Philippines Tomorrow As India Set To Complete Its Largest Defence Export Deal

India's first major defence export deal is set to reach a milestone as the Philippines is scheduled to receive the initial batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles on Friday (19 April).

The Indian Air Force is leading the operation to transfer the heavy equipment, with support from civil aircraft agencies as per a report by The New Indian Express.

The same report confirms that the long-haul flight carrying the heavy loads will be a non-stop six-hour journey to reach the western parts of the Philippines.

The Rs 2,700 crore worth deal between India and the Philippines for the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles was announced in January 2022, marking India's first major defense export order. The notice for the deal was signed on 31 December 2021.

According to the agreement, the Philippines will receive three missile batteries for the missile system, which has a range of 290 kilometers and a speed of 2.8 Mach. The deal also includes training for operators and an integrated logistics support package.

In February 2023, operator training for the missile system was successfully conducted for 21 personnel of the Philippine Navy. The training focused on the operations and maintenance of the SBASMS logistics packages.

India has also been in discussions with Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and other nations that have shown interest in the BrahMos system.

The BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India and Russia, can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land. Currently, efforts are underway to indigenize 83 per cent of its components.

India successfully test-fired the extended-range sea-to-sea variant of the BrahMos missile on 11 January 2022, from the Indian Navy's INS Visakhapatnam.

The extended-range version of BrahMos was developed after India's full membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime, which removed caps on the missile's range.