The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is waiting on India’s delivery of BrahMos medium-range supersonic cruise missiles, expected to arrive this week at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga City.
Manila Bulletin quoted an undisclosed source as saying the missile system, which costs 19 billion Philippine pesos ($375 million), will be used to counter ongoing Chinese aggression in the region.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said that the military has yet to confirm its integration into the force’s maritime affairs.
“We cannot comment unless the capability is turned over to us,” Padilla shared.
The deal was approved as part of Manila’s Horizon 2 Priority Project, an initiative under the armed forces’ modernization program that seeks to address tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Modernizing Defenses
The Philippines has continued to heighten its defense capabilities as a way to combat China’s activities in the contested waters.
An updated modernization project called Re-Horizon 3 was approved in January highlighting the Philippine government’s plan to spend up to two trillion pesos ($35 billion) in 10 years to bolster its defenses.
Part of its updated posture includes the acquisition of modern weapons and equipment to respond to emerging threats.
The country also acquired a Mitsubishi FPS-3ME radar from Japan in 2023 to help its air force widen its surveillance capabilities.
