Speaking exclusively with BharatShakti at the sidelines of the naval exercise MILAN 2024, Commodore Joe Anthony Orbe, the Commander of Naval Forces in Southern Luzon, said: “Besides the Brahmos missile system that we have with India, we don’t have the information (on Tejas) yet because we have a Technical Working Group of the Department of National Defence who recommends to the Secretary of National Defense who decides on all defense procurement projects”. Commodore Orbe is heading a Philippines Navy delegation, taking part in the Indian Navy’s flagship multi-nation naval exercise Milan 2024′, which commenced in Visakhapatnam on February 19 and is scheduled to conclude on February 27.
“Being a growing navy, we need assistance and learnings from other navies and also sharing our experiences with them. The Indian Navy is very advanced in some aspects like training and naval operations, and we have students here undergoing training in various armed forces bases,” said Commodore Orbe while explaining the importance of participating in the ongoing naval exercise.
Meanwhile, last week, a delegation from the Indian defence industry, including representatives from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), Bharat Dynamics, and other companies, visited Manila to explore potential defence collaborations. During a defence industry event in Taguig City on February 16, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, Shambhu Kumaran, highlighted India’s diverse capabilities in naval systems, fighter aircraft, helicopters, attack helicopters, land systems, and artillery systems. He mentioned that some of these capabilities match the requirements the Philippines is considering for its Horizon 3 acquisitions.
As reported, the Philippines is on the verge of implementing an extensive Peso 2-trillion revised military modernisation initiative known as Re-Horizon 3, slated to unfold over the next decade. In January 2022, the Philippines Navy finalised a $374 million deal with Brahmos Aerospace to procure three missile batteries. Also, reports indicate a strong interest from the Philippines Army in acquiring more of the Indian missile system.
India is gearing up to dispatch ground systems accompanying the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to the Philippines, and missile deliveries are expected by March of this year. DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat recently revealed that the export procedures are set to commence in February, with the ground systems taking the lead. The initial batch of BrahMos missile systems is expected to reach the Philippines by the conclusion of March.
Brahmos missiles are produced in India through the collaborative effort of Brahmos Aerospace, where India holds a 50.5% stake, and Russia’s state-owned NPO Mashinostroyenia owns the remaining 49.5%. Recognised as a robust deterrent against potential threats from China, the 3-ton Brahmos is acclaimed as one of the fastest cruise missiles, boasting a striking range of approximately 450 km. This two-stage precision strike projectile operates on a fire-and-forget principle, achieving a top speed of 2.8 Mach (3,347 km/h) and has the capability to carry a 300 kg warhead.
The arrival of the missile system coincides with heightened tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, leading to increased military confrontations in recent times. These missile systems will fortify the Philippines Navy’s capacity to protect its sovereign claims in the region. With one of the longest coastlines globally, deploying these missile units will enhance the country’s overall security.
Last year, in February, a group of twenty-one Philippines Marines completed hands-on training in India focused on the operation and maintenance of the BrahMos anti-ship supersonic cruise missile, the contract for which was signed in 2022. BrahMos India hopes to secure a subsequent order of approximately $300 million from the Philippines, anticipating an acquisition by the Philippines Army for a land-based version of the missile system.
Ravi Shankar, Vizag
