In a milestone for India's defence export drive, the Philippines has accepted a proposal by the consortium making the BrahMos missile to supply the weapon at a price of $375 million.
This development brings closer to reality the first export deal for the BrahMos missile, which was jointly developed by India and Russia.
Philippines will buy the BrahMos missile in a shore-based coastal defence role. The BrahMos is a supersonic missile with a range of nearly 300km. ANI reported “The Notice of Award has been communicated to BrahMos officials by the Philippines Department of National Defense”.
India had been promoting the BrahMos missile to Philippines for several years, though negotiations had been hit by the pandemic.
In late December, the Philippines Department of Budget Management allocated resources to “cover the initial funding requirements for the shore-based anti-ship missile system acquisition project of the Philippine Navy”.
also read
- Philippines: 54 killed in landslide that buried a gold-mining village in south
- Irked by Philippines congratulating Taiwan’s Lai, China says don’t play with fire
- Philippine president blames foreign militants for blast that killed 4 Christian worshippers
- Philippines earthquake and tsunami warning: Which countries need to worry and what we know so far
It is learnt that initially, the Philippines will procure the missiles for its navy though the country is also looking at the weapons for its land forces as well.
The BrahMos is also being promoted for export across Southeast Asia, Middle East and Latin America.
(With PTI inputs)