UPSC Articles
Philippines approves $374-million BrahMos contract
Part of: Prelims and GS-II International Relations and GS-III Defence and Security
Context: In the first export order for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, the Philippines has approved a $374.96 mn contract for the purchase of a shore-based anti-ship variant of the missile from India.
Key takeaways
- It includes the delivery of three batteries, training for operators and maintainers as well as the necessary Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package.
- The coastal defence regiment of the Philippine Marines will be the primary employer.
- There is interest for acquiring BrahMos missiles from several countries and negotiations are in advanced stages with Indonesia and Thailand.
About BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
- BrahMos, deployed by the Navy on its warships first in 2005, has the capability to hit sea-based targets beyond radar horizon.
- Capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against surface- and sea-based targets
- The missiles, fired at a speed of 2.8 Mach or nearly three times the speed of sound, significantly increase the capability of the ships in engaging long-range targets.
- The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.
- It is the world’s fastest anti-ship cruise missile currently in operation.
- BrahMos missiles are designed and developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture company set up by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Mashinostroyenia of Russia
News Source: TH
