On March 2, 2021, Philippines signed an implementing arrangement for ‘procurement of defence material and equipment’ with India during a pact’s signing ceremony at the Camp Aguinaldo in Manila, headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The agreement involves the procurement of defence equipment by the Philippines from India.
- It was signed by India’s Ambassador to the Philippines Shambu S. Kumaran and Philippines Defence Undersecretary Raymundo Elefante in the presence of Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
About Indo- Philippines Implementing Arrangement:
It is a foundational agreement for government-to-government contracts and will serve as a guide for the Philippines and India on policies and procedures in the defence procurement. Under this pact, there is a possible sale of the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines.
- India and Russia have been planning to export the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to several other countries.
About BrahMos Missile:
It is produced by an Indo-Russian joint venture (JV) firm BrahMos Aerospace and it can be launched from submarines, ships, and aircraft or from land platforms. It is a JV between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
- It is the only supersonic cruise missile in the world that flies at three times the speed of sound (2.8 Mach). India is working to extend the range of the BrahMos missile, the version that will be exported will come with a “normal range” of 290 km.
BrahMoS Testing:
i.In October 2020, a naval version of the BrahMos missile was successfully test-fired from an indigenously-built stealth destroyer of the Indian Navy in the Arabian sea.
ii.After this, Indian Air Force (IAF) test-fired an air-launched version of the BrahMos missile from a Sukhoi fighter aircraft in the Bay of Bengal.
BrahMoS Deployment:
India has already deployed original BrahMos missiles and other key assets in several strategic locations along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
- The IAF is also integrating the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets to bolster the overall combat capability of the force.
Recent Related News:
i.On December 1, 2020, India successfully Test Fired the Anti-Ship version of the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile from the Indian Navy’s INS Ranvijay in Andaman & Nicobar Islands Territory. The Missile had a strike range of 300 Kms. It was the first time that the missile was flight tested by 3 Services of the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Air Force & Navy).
ii.On December 23, 2020, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the signing of a Revised Air Services agreement between India & 2 Countries – Philippines & Afghanistan.
About Phillipines:
Capital– Manila
Currency– Philippine peso
