New Delhi: The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system was delivered to the Philippines by India on Friday. This delivery is part of a $374.9 million contract signed between the two countries in 2022.
A viral video circulating on social media captured the moment of the missile system’s arrival, with sweets being shared to mark the occasion as an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft landed at the Clark Air Base, a Philippine Air Force base on Luzon Island.
The contract for the shore-based version of the anti-ship cruise missile, boasting a range of 290 km, marks the first major international export order for the Indian defence sector, according to defence experts. This delivery comes at a time of heightened tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea.
The ground system exports for the BrahMos missile system began last month, with plans for deployment in the coastal areas of the Philippines by the country’s marine corps.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is hailed as one of the most accurate and successful missile programmes globally, representing a joint venture between India and Russia. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India and the NPOM Mashinostroyeniya in Russia are the main partners in this venture.