The Philippine Marine Corps publicly revealed its first operational BrahMos shore-based missile battery during a ceremony marking the service’s 75th anniversary, underscoring Manila’s continued effort to strengthen coastal defense as tensions persist in the South China Sea.
The system, positioned in Zambales, is located within range of Scarborough Shoal. The location was shown in footage released by the Presidential Broadcast Service (RTVM), which displayed the full battery layout, transport vehicles, support units, and training personnel.
According to earlier Philippine announcements, the system is part of a $374.96 million contract signed in January 2022 for three BrahMos Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System batteries. The first battery arrived in April 2024, with additional deliveries ongoing.
The BrahMos missile, developed jointly by India and Russia through BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, has a range of approximately 290 kilometers and can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.8. The missile can be launched from land, sea, air, and submarine platforms.
The Philippine Marine Corps has stated that the BrahMos system will support coastal defense, maritime deterrence, and domain awareness missions. The battery configuration displayed during the ceremony included road-mobile launchers, command vehicles, and logistics support components.
The second BrahMos battery was dispatched by India earlier this year. The deliveries are part of the Philippines’ effort to develop a credible, layered coastal defense architecture, while modernizing its armed forces under ongoing procurement programs.
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