Philippines to deploy BrahMos missiles with new coastal defence unit

The BrahMos shore-based anti-ship missiles that Manila will acquire from India will be deployed with the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).

The news was confirmed by the country’s Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana on his official social media page on 14 January.

The weapons will be operated by a relatively new formation within the PMC known as the Coastal Defense Regiment, which was activated in August 2020.

Lorenzana signed a USD375 million notice of award that was issued to India’s BrahMos Aerospace in December 2021. Under the arrangement, BrahMos Aerospace will supply the PMC with three batteries of shore-based anti-ship missiles including a logistics and training package.

The programme has been listed as a priority project under Horizon 2 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines three-phased modernisation programme.