India eyes new $800 million BrahMos deal as Philippines expands coastal defences

India is in talks to expand its sale of supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, with negotiations centring on an order worth between $700 million and $800 million.

The proposed agreement would supply Manila with approximately five BrahMos systems, comprising nearly 60 missiles. If signed, the order would more than double the scope of the two nations' original defence partnership, reinforcing New Delhi's rising profile as a dependable supplier of advanced military hardware in Southeast Asia.

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro confirmed the interest while speaking virtually at the Delhi Defence Dialogue, stating that Manila hopes to secure additional BrahMos units and has submitted a wish list to Indian authorities to tailor the hardware to the archipelagic nation's operating environment. Philippine defence ministry spokesperson Arsenio Andolong also noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has personally backed the plan to acquire more systems, though formal contracts and final delivery timetables remain under negotiation.

How the new contract compares

The prospective sale builds on a landmark agreement signed in January 2022, which made the Philippines the first foreign customer for the BrahMos platform.

Deliveries under the initial 2022 order are nearing completion. An Indian Air Force C-17 delivered the first battery to the Philippines in April 2024, followed by a second battery shipped by sea around April 2025. Marine units deployed equipment in Zambales in Western Luzon, positioning coastal batteries toward critical maritime corridors.

While the Marine Corps battery configuration operates two twin-canister launchers, the expected follow-on package is intended for the Philippine Army, which established its 1st Land-Based Missile System Battery in 2019 in anticipation of receiving long-range strike capabilities.

Technical capability and regional reach

Developed jointly by India and Russia, the BrahMos is among the world's fastest operational cruise missiles. The export variant travels at Mach 2.8 to 3 with an operational range of roughly 290 kilometres, carrying a conventional warhead of 200 to 300 kilograms.

Its flight profile pairs high-altitude cruising with a terminal sea-skimming approach at altitudes as low as three to ten metres. That low-altitude profile, combined with active radar guidance in the terminal phase, makes the missile exceptionally difficult for surface combatants to detect and intercept.

For Manila, deploying BrahMos batteries supports its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, established in 2024 to protect territorial approaches without needing to match larger foreign navies ship for ship.

Surge in Indian defence manufacturing

The negotiations reflect the rapid momentum behind India's domestic defence manufacturing drive. Official figures show India's defence exports reached 384.24 billion rupees ($4.11 billion) in the fiscal year ending March, marking an increase of more than 62% over the previous twelve months.

International demand for the BrahMos system has expanded substantially. New Delhi announced the supply of BrahMos missiles to Indonesia in July and concluded an agreement with Vietnam. Indian officials are also engaged in defence export discussions with several other countries, including the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Thailand and Brazil.