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As Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in New Delhi today, defence cooperation is expected to top the agenda during his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. High on the list is a potential arms deal involving India’s Akash-1S air defence missile system, as Manila seeks to bolster its capabilities amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Sources familiar with the negotiations have confirmed that talks on the acquisition of the Akash-1S system are advancing positively. The Akash-1S, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) equipped with an indigenous active radar seeker. It offers improved accuracy and can simultaneously engage multiple aerial threats at ranges up to 30 kilometres and altitudes of 20 kilometres.
The system builds on the combat-proven legacy of the original Akash missile. Notably, during Operation Sindoor, the Akash-1S successfully intercepted and destroyed Pakistan’s Fateh-1 guided rocket, an advanced weapon with a low radar cross-section and a range of 140 kilometres. The Indian Air Force substantiated the operation with recovered debris, reinforcing global confidence in India’s indigenous air defence capabilities.
India is now preparing to finalise the Akash-1S deal, estimated to exceed the $230 million value of a similar export to Armenia recently. The discussions reportedly include pricing, radar systems, and platform integration details, though neither country has disclosed specific quantities.
If finalised, the Akash-1S deal would mark India’s second major defence export to the Philippines, following the landmark $375 million BrahMos supersonic cruise missile agreement signed in 2022.
BrahMos: Second Batch Delivered, More to Come
The BrahMos missile deal is already in motion as the Philippines engages in advanced talks with India to enhance its cruise missile arsenal. India delivered the second battery of the missile system to the Philippines last month in July via sea transport, following the first airlifted shipment in April 2024. The complete contract includes three batteries along with comprehensive training and maintenance support for the Philippine military.
Jointly developed by India and Russia, the BrahMos is one of the world’s fastest cruise missiles, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 2.8 and ranges of 290 kilometres. Its multi-platform launch capability, from land, air, sea, and sub-sea, makes it a versatile force multiplier.
Currently, the Philippine Marine Corps is operating the BrahMos system. Armed Forces Chief General Romeo Brawner has confirmed that the country plans to procure additional batteries, signalling a deeper and expanding defence partnership with India.
Strengthening Indo-Pacific Defence Ties
This defence partnership comes amid increasing maritime friction between the Philippines and China over disputed territories in the South China Sea. China’s expansive claims and recent confrontations have pushed Manila to diversify its defence suppliers, with India emerging as a trusted regional partner.
India, once the world’s largest arms importer, is steadily becoming a defence exporter of strategic relevance. Its defence exports rose by nearly 150% since 2020, reaching $2.4 billion in 2023–24. The government is aiming to ramp up production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, targeting Rs 3 lakh crore ($36 billion) in defence manufacturing by 2029.
The Akash-1S purchase, if signed during the current high-level meetings in New Delhi, will be a symbolic and strategic milestone. It would not only enhance the Philippines’ layered air defence system, currently relying on Israeli SPYDER systems, but also signal growing trust in India’s capability to deliver cutting-edge, battle-proven technology.
India, on the other hand, will solidify its role as a key player in the Southeast Asian defence landscape, with the Philippines at the centre of its outreach. With talks also ongoing with Indonesia, Vietnam, and the UAE, India’s defence export diplomacy is gaining serious traction.
As regional tensions in the Indo-Pacific deepen, India-Philippines defence ties are set to grow stronger, rooted in shared security interests and technological cooperation.
Huma Siddiqui
