Philippines would be the first country to purchase missile system jointly developed by India and Russia to defend its maritime territory.
The Philippines has finalised a deal to acquire a shore-based anti-ship missile system from India for nearly $375m to beef up its navy, the Southeast Asian nation’s defence minister said.
The Philippines is in the late stages of a five-year, P300 billion ($5.85bn) project to modernise its military’s outdated hardware that includes warships from World War II and helicopters used by the United States in the Vietnam War.
Manila’s military was one of the most poorly equipped in Asia when President Rodrigo Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, began a modest modernisation programme in 2012 – but it is still no match for its superpower neighbour China.
Under the deal negotiated with the government of India, BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd will deliver three batteries, train operators and maintainers, and provide logistical support, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a Facebook post late on Friday.
BrahMos – a joint venture between India and Russia – has developed a cruise missile that the Indian defence ministry says is the fastest in the world.
The Philippines would be the first country to purchase it. India’s defence ministry declined to comment.
Manila’s military was one of the most poorly equipped in Asia when President Rodrigo Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, began a modest modernisation programme in 2012 – but it is still no match for its superpower neighbour China.
Under the deal negotiated with the government of India, BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd will deliver three batteries, train operators and maintainers, and provide logistical support, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a Facebook post late on Friday.
BrahMos – a joint venture between India and Russia – has developed a cruise missile that the Indian defence ministry says is the fastest in the world.
The Philippines would be the first country to purchase it. India’s defence ministry declined to comment.
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