In one of the most significant moments for India, the Philippines has accepted India’s offer to buy BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in a deal worth $375 million for its shore-based anti-ship missile system.
The announcement acquisition project, the country’s Department of National Defence has said in a letter dated 31 December 2021.The purchase of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile by the Philippines was making rounds for several years and now with this approval, the Philippines will become the first international customer of this variant cruise missile.
The acquisition of the missile will significantly boost the Philippines ‘ capabilities and this will pose a direct threat to China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including the parts that are claimed by the Philippines, based on the “nine-dash line”.
China has maritime disputes in the South China Sea with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are also party, is driven by overlapping claims to land features in the South China Sea and the maritime entitlements around them.
Over the last decade, China has built artificial islands in the region and militarised them to solidify its claims and has bullied other claimants, including the Philippines.
In 2016, the International Tribunal in The Hague dismissed China’s claims in the South China Sea as part of a ruling in a case brought by the Philippines in 2013.
However, China not only refused to participate in the proceedings, but it also rejected its ruling in the case.
In the event of a conflict started by China, BrahMos supersonic cruise missile could be used in its shore-based anti-ship missile system to target Chinese vessels in parts of the South China Sea.
However, what is important is that once the export of the BrahMos missile takes place, it will lead to other nations, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam who have border conflict with China have expressed interest in the BrahMos missile.
In 2018, a BrahMos aerospace team had visited Indonesia’s state-run shipyard in Surabaya to assess and set up fitting of the naval version of the BrahMos cruise missile on Indonesian warships.
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