Philippines to get 2nd batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India
By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter
THE PHILIPPINES will soon take delivery of the second batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India to bolster its anti-ship capabilities, with the military already preparing for its strategic deployment, its top Defense official said on Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. did not say when the latest BrahMos missile system would be delivered, but Indian media reported that the ship carrying the missiles had sailed from India earlier this week.
“They’re on their way,” he told reporters in Filipino after meeting Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in a courtesy call in Manila. “We’re taking all the steps needed to use them properly.”
The Philippines placed three orders for Indian-made BrahMos cruise missile batteries worth $375 million (P19.8 billion) in 2022 as part of its military modernization efforts, and received the first batch last year.
The BrahMos missile system, with a range of 290 kilometers, can achieve supersonic speeds and can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land-based platforms.
The Philippine military is seeking to modernize its equipment and has earmarked at least $35 billion for its build-up amid clashes with Beijing’s naval and coast guard vessels in the South China Sea, where the two nations have competing claims over disputed maritime features such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.
The South China Sea has become a regional flashpoint as China continues to assert sovereignty over almost the entire sea, seen as a vital global trade route that is believed to be also rich in undersea gas and oil deposits.
Mr. Teodoro said the Philippine military is preparing where to base the Indian-made missile systems, since no planning had been made before their purchase.
“What I’ve been working on is ensuring where they will be placed and stored, as these preparations weren’t ready before,” he said. “We rushed to catch up and make the necessary arrangements.”
The Philippines is looking to buy more BrahMos missile systems this year, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. told reporters in February.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has yet to receive a formal offer for the possible sale of F-16 fighter jets that the US Department of State approved early this month, Mr. Teodoro said.
“We are still waiting for a formal offer and proposal. So far, we haven’t received any,” he said in Filipino.
The US government greenlit the Philippines’ request for 20 F-16 fighters from Lockheed Martin Corp. worth $5.58 billion (P315 billion), in a possible deal that includes missiles, bombs, radar units and backup jet engines.
Mr. Teodoro told lawmakers last year the Philippines started soliciting offers for 40 new, multi-role fighter aircraft to boost its territorial defense capabilities. The government is willing to shell out about P400 billion for the pur-chase, he said in August.
Manila is eyeing much needed upgrades to its aging air force, whose arsenal mostly consists of turboprops. The Philippine Air Force only has 11 Korean-made FA-50 light fighter jets, its most advanced aircraft, after one crashed in early March.
Meanwhile, Mr. Teodoro and Mr. Sjamsoeddin exchanged views on regional security, maritime cooperation and bilateral defense initiatives during their meeting in Manila, the Defense department said in a separate statement.
“The Defense ministers discussed security developments in the Indo-Pacific region and affirmed their shared interests as archipelagic nations,” it said. “They acknowledged that this fundamental similarity as neighbors can further deepen defense and military cooperation through sustained interaction and engagements at multiple levels.”
Mr. Teodoro also expressed interest in learning from Indonesia’s experience in indigenous defense production, in line with the recently enacted Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act, which seeks to bolster the Philip-pine defense industry.
During the visit, Mr. Brawner also met with his counterpart, Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Agus Subiyanto, the Defense department said.
“The meeting underscored the shared vision of the Philippines and Indonesia in promoting a stable, secure, and rules-based regional order,” it added.
In a related development, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates signed an agreement on security cooperation against crime, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“The agreement seeks to enhance cooperation in addressing security threats through the exchange of information and the implementation of joint initiatives designed to prevent, detect and combat various forms of transna-tional and organized crime,” it said.
It added that the deal would focus on cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking and other serious crimes. — with Adrian H. Halili
