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The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) formally inducted its first operational BrahMos shore-based missile battery during its 75th anniversary celebrations, marking a landmark development in Manila’s coastal defence modernisation and a major success for India’s defence exports under the “Make in India, Make for the World” initiative.
The newly revealed Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile (SBASM) Battery belongs to the Marine Corps’ Coastal Defence Regiment. It is deployed in Zambales, Western Luzon, well within range of the Scarborough Shoal, a recurrent flashpoint in the South China Sea. The location and deployment details were captured in visuals released by the Presidential Broadcast Service (RTVM), which showcased the complete battery layout, including mobile launchers, command vehicles, reloader trucks, and support elements.
Operational Milestone in the Philippines’ Modernisation Drive
The induction stems from a $374.96 million contract signed with India-Russia joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited in January 2022, covering three complete batteries of the BrahMos Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System. The first battery arrived in April 2024, with deliveries of subsequent systems underway.
Each battery comprises two mobile autonomous launchers, one radar vehicle, a command and control unit, and a missile reloader, providing the Philippine Marine Corps with a credible maritime strike capability. Each launcher carries two BrahMos missiles, while the reloader vehicle holds four additional rounds.
The BrahMos remains one of the world’s fastest and most reliable cruise missiles, capable of speeds up to Mach 2.8 and a strike range of approximately 290 km. The missile can be deployed from land, sea, air, and submarine platforms, providing the user with significant operational flexibility.
Enhancing Deterrence in the South China Sea
The deployment of the first BrahMos battery on the country’s western seaboard substantially augments the Philippines’ deterrence capability and contributes to its layered coastal defence architecture. It also reinforces Manila’s maritime domain awareness and quick-response options amid persistent tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where the country faces growing Chinese assertiveness.
Senior officials from the Philippine Marine Corps emphasised that the BrahMos system would form a core component of national defence and deterrence missions, integrating with other surveillance and strike assets under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernisation Programme.
A Breakthrough for India’s Defence Exports
For India, the Philippines’ operationalisation of the BrahMos represents a major export milestone and a validation of New Delhi’s growing capability as a defence technology provider. Derived from Russia’s P-800 Oniks, the BrahMos has evolved over the years into a highly indigenised missile system, with a majority of its components sourced domestically from Indian defence industries.
The success of this delivery has bolstered India’s credibility as a reliable strategic partner and exporter. BrahMos Aerospace has since secured additional export contracts worth an estimated $450 million with two unnamed countries. Regional interest continues to grow, with Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam actively evaluating the system, alongside enquiries from Latin American and Middle Eastern nations.
Strategic Implications
The BrahMos induction by the Philippines is more than a procurement milestone—it is a strategic signal. It reflects the deepening India–Philippines defence partnership and the broader Indo-Pacific security convergence where maritime democracies seek to reinforce deterrence against coercive behaviour.
For India, it serves as a demonstration of how defence industrial cooperation can be a strategic tool to shape regional stability, expand partnerships, and open new markets for high-technology exports. For the Philippines, it marks a decisive step in building a credible coastal defence posture in one of the world’s most contested maritime zones.
In essence, the BrahMos deployment in Zambales not only extends the Philippines’ coastal defence reach but also strengthens India’s position as a dependable defence partner in the Indo-Pacific, bridging technology, deterrence, and diplomacy.
Team BharatShakti
