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.
