Philippines Welcomes Game-Changer: Brahmos Missiles Arrive to Bolster Defence

In January 2022, the Philippine Department of National Defence (DND) signed a contract valued at about US$375 million for the purchase of the Indo-Russian BrahMos medium-range supersonic cruise missiles. Indian Airforce C-17 transport aircraft delivered the first batch of Brahmos Missiles to Philippines. Three missile batteries, each with three missiles, along with related datalinks and tracking systems, are required under the terms of the agreement. The missile batteries are mobile launchers. The BrahMos cruise missile has a maximum speed of about Mach 2.8 and can be fired from a land-based launcher, submarine, ship, or aeroplane, depending on the model. Up to 300 kg of warheads can be carried by it.

On looking up to the what these missiles are capable of,

Variants of Brahmos:

• Land-launched: The first operational version with a range of around 290 km.
• Ship-launched: Deployed on Indian Navy vessels, offering anti-ship capabilities.
• Air-launched: Integrated with the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, providing long-range standoff capability.
• BrahMos-II: Hypersonic variant under development with a projected speed of Mach 8 and a range of 1500 km.

Key Features of Brahmos:

• High Supersonic Speed: The BrahMos is one of the fastest operational cruise missiles, making it difficult for air defence systems to intercept.
• Multiple Launch Platforms: The versatility of launch platforms allows for flexible deployment options.
• High Manoeuvrability: The missile can perform complex manoeuvres during flight, further enhancing its ability to evade defences.
• Sea-skimming Capability: The missile can fly close to the water surface, making it harder to detect by radar.

Applications of Brahmos:

• Anti-ship warfare - for destroying enemy naval vessels.
• Land-attack missions - against high-value targets.
• Coastal defence.