India has taken a major step toward becoming a global defence exporter with the delivery of its BrahMos missile system to the Philippines — marking the country’s first major export of advanced missile technology, according to a report on Saturday.
The development reflects New Delhi’s strategic push in the Indo-Pacific region, deepening defence cooperation with ASEAN nations and contributing to a multipolar security framework aimed at countering China’s growing assertiveness.
According to The National Interest, “India appears to have been happy to supply the Philippines with its advanced missiles, at least in part because the likely target of those missiles will be China.”
The two nations signed a landmark agreement in January 2022 for the export of three shore-based anti-ship missile batteries, valued at around $375 million.
“Clearly, the weapon was meant to deter the increasingly bellicose People’s Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard, which have been acting with extreme aggression toward the Philippines in the South China Sea,” the report added.
The BrahMos contract covers far more than the missiles themselves. Manila’s deal with New Delhi includes mobile launchers, radar systems, command-and-control units, logistics support, and comprehensive training for Philippine military personnel.
Delivery of the system began in April 2024, when an Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft transported the first batch of missiles, mobile launch units, and support systems. The second battery arrived in April 2025, and the third is expected to follow soon.
For export customers, the BrahMos missile has a range of 290 km and employs a two-stage propulsion system — a solid booster for initial launch and a ramjet engine for sustained supersonic cruise. It can be fired from land, ships, submarines, and aircraft, giving it a versatile and powerful deterrent capability.
By expanding its defence footprint through high-value exports, India is emerging as a credible player in the global arms market — while strengthening strategic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
