Delhi may strike $200 million missile deal with Manila: report

Delhi is weighing selling short-range missiles to Manila in 2025-26 in a deal worth more than $200 million, Reuters reported, citing three people aware of the matter who sought anonymity.

If the deal goes through, this will be India’s second major defense export contract with the Philippines.

Manila had expressed interest in the Akash missile system developed by India’s defense research wing and informed New Delhi about its intention to make an order in 2025-26, the report said, citing the three people, who did not reveal the number of missiles or accompanying systems like radar.

The surface-to-air Akash missiles, which have a range of up to 25km (or 16 miles) were exported to Armenia last year in a $230 million deal. The Philippine sale is likely to be bigger than the dispatch to Armenia, the report added.

Bharat Dynamics Ltd, which manufactured these missiles, participated in the Asian Defense and Security Exhibition in Manila last year.

In 2022, New Delhi had exported a mid-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to Manila in a $375 million deal.

The latest deal comes as Manila is building its military strength as tensions escalate with Beijing over their respective claims in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. this week stressed the need to beef up the country’s military readiness to  better respond to external security challenges and disaster response missions.

Brawner Jr. was addressing a meeting with the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) at the Shangri-la The Fort in Taguig City on Wednesday.