According to Indian media reports recently, the Philippine defense minister said that the country has decided to sign an agreement to purchase the "Brah Mos" shore-based anti-ship missile system from India in order to strengthen its naval combat capabilities against the sea. The agreement amounts to nearly $375 million, which is a "heavy purchase" according to the Philippines' defense budget. The Philippines thus became the first country in the region to receive the Brah Mos cruise missile system jointly issued by India and Russia.
The agreement has been in the making for years, and the ripple effect is likely to be felt for a while. Indian media pointed out that India wants to become a regional security provider and also a defense exporter. For it, this agreement is a big step forward. The Philippines is not the only country interested in the missile system, vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand have also shown interest, among which Vietnam said many years ago that it wanted to buy the "BrahMos" but has not yet placed an order. India also hopes to export to the UAE in the future.
For India, the deal not only raises its profile as a defense exporter, but also sends a strategic signal to China. Especially since the Philippines will target China and use the missile system to cover a large area of the South China Sea, the Chinese navy will have difficulties, because guarding against ultra-high-speed missiles is a problem for any country's navy. The Philippines' purchase of the missile system is a statement of its strength. Recently, the Philippines has been strengthening its military presence in an increasingly volatile region. Last year it procured 15 Black Hawk helicopters. And India has been steadily ramping up its arms exports as part of its "self-sufficient India" program.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in October: "Our defence exports have increased by 325% in the last five years. Our goal is for Indian companies to become global brands. "The private and public sectors are collaborating. Former Indian Defence Minister Shripad Naik has previously said India is exporting military equipment to 42 countries or regions, including Azerbaijan, Seychelles, Estonia, Indonesia, Guinea, Singapore and Germany.
However, in terms of equipment value, it seems that the value is not large. India exported night vision binoculars to Thailand, sleeping bags to several African countries, bulletproof helmets and explosive blankets to Germany, and hard bulletproof plates to the Netherlands and the United States. Military goods exported from the Indian Sea to Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq, Ula, Japan and Egypt also fall under the category of personal protective equipment. Compared with China's sales of fighter jets, warships, submarines, various missiles, and artillery systems in the world, the gap is still very obvious. And one of the big destinations for Chinese military exports is Southeast Asia, although the Philippines certainly won't buy it. Text/PY