Philippines Unveils First BrahMos Anti-Ship Missile Battery
The Philippine Marine Corps has unveiled its first BrahMos anti-ship missile battery, procured from India in 2022 to bolster the country’s coastal defense capabilities.
The missile was showcased in a video during the Philippine Marine Corps’ 75th anniversary ceremony.
According to Naval News, citing satellite imagery, the battery will be stationed in Zambales on the west coast of Luzon, overlooking the South China Sea.
The site is located roughly 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Scarborough Shoal, a territory disputed between the Philippines and China.
With an operational range of approximately 290 kilometers (180 miles), the missile is capable of threatening adversary assets, including Chinese vessels operating near the Scarborough Shoal.
Moreover, the system’s mobile configuration enables batteries to shift between firing locations, extending their reach against targets off Western Luzon and enhancing survivability against potential counterattacks.
The system will be operated by the Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile Battalion under the Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment.
Construction is reportedly underway on another prospective deployment site at the 4th Marine Brigade headquarters in Camp Cape Bojeador, Burgos, Ilocos Norte.
The Philippine government acquired three BrahMos batteries under a contract valued at around $375 million.
The procurement also included training and logistics support packages.
“The unveiling of the BrahMos Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System during the 75th anniversary of the Philippine Marine Corps marks a key milestone in the AFP’s (Armed Forces of the Philippines) modernization under Horizon 2,” GMA News Online quoted a message by AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad as saying.
“Acquired through a defense agreement with India in 2022, the system provides a supersonic, precision-strike capability to protect the nation’s maritime interests.”
Manila is considering the acquisition of additional BrahMos batteries to further strengthen its coastal defense capabilities.
BrahMos
Co-developed by India and Russia, the missile combines a solid booster for launch with a liquid-fueled ramjet that propels it to Mach 3.
The ship and land variants of the BrahMos carry 200-kilogram (440-pound) semi-armor-piercing warheads, while the air-launched model carries a 300-kilogram (661-pound) warhead.
It can skim as low as 10 meters (33 feet) above the surface to strike its target.
The system supports launches from surface ships, mobile ground launchers, submarines and airborne platforms, and is configurable for coastal-defense and land-attack roles.
Based on the Russian P-800 Oniks, the BrahMos features a similar design with extensive integration of Indian components.
The export version’s range is capped at 290 kilometers (180 miles) under Missile Technology Control Regime rules, while the Indian variant can reach about 450 kilometers (280 miles).
A BrahMos variant with an extended range of 800 kilometers (497 miles) is reported to be in development.
