Policy Update
Simona Miriam Hughes
Background:
The India-Philippines Brahmos Missile Agreement is known to be one of the major landmark developments in India’s development as a credible Defence exporter and strategic security partner in South-East Asia. The agreement, being signed in 2022 through a contract worth approximately 375 million dollars, marked India’s first ever export of the BrahMOS missile cruise system. The implementation phase gained momentum during 2024-2026 with the successful delivery of missile batteries, deployment support, operator training and sustained bilateral defence cooperation. The agreement also further reflects India’s broader objective of combining defence manufacturing capabilities with foreign policy to strengthen strategic partnerships under the Act East Policy and the vision of the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
The Philippines sought the BrahMOS coastal defence system mainly to enhance maritime deterrence amid growing security challenges in the South China Sea. For India, the agreement extends beyond just a defence transition; it also demonstrates the country’s commitment in becoming a reliable security provider in the Indo-Pacific while advancing the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing. The implementation process has included collaborations between the governments of India and the Philippines, BrahMOS Aerospace, the Indian Armed forces and multiple defence agencies responsible for logistics, training and technical assistance.
Functioning:
The BrahMOS missile system supplied to the Philippines consist mainly of shore-based anti-ship missiles batteries designed to protect coastal territories from hostile naval incursions. Developed jointly by India and Russia through BrahMOS Aerospace, the missile combines supersonic speed, high precision and extended strike capability, making it one of the world’s fastest operational cruise missiles. Under the agreement, India is not only responsible for manufacturing and delivering the missile systems, but also for providing operator training, maintenance support, technical documentation and long term logistical assistance.
Implementation was accelerated in 2024 when India completed the first deliveries of the missile system using both airlift and maritime logistics. Alongside hardware transfers, Indian defence personnel conducted extensive training programmes for Philippine military operators, to ensure effective integration into the country’s coastal defence architecture. The implementation model reflects India’s evolving defence export framework, which combines equipment sales with capacity building, technology support and strategic cooperation rather than one-time defence transactions.
The agreement also aligns with India’s expanding defence engagement across Southeast Asia. Defence diplomacy encompasses joint military exercises, naval cooperation, maritime domain awareness, defence dialogues and industrial collaboration. This thereby strengthens India’s strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific while simultaneously supporting regional partners in enhancing their maritime security capabilities.
Performance:
The implementation period between 2024 and 2026 witnessed many milestones that strengthened the credibility of India’s defence export ecosystem. In April 2024, India successfully delivered the first batch of BrahMos missile systems to the Philippines using Indian Air Force transport aircraft. This marked the operational commencement of the agreement. This achievement demonstrated India’s growing ability to execute complex defence export contracts involving advanced military technologies within committed timelines.
The agreement has contributed greatly to India’s rapidly expanding defence exports. According to the Ministry of Defence, India’s defence exports have increased from approximately ₹686 crore in 2013–14 to over ₹23,600 crore in 2024–25, reflecting sustained policy emphasis on indigenous manufacturing and export promotion. The BrahMos export serves as one of the flagship examples of this transformation by showcasing India’s capability to manufacture and export sophisticated strategic weapon systems to foreign partners.
Beyond export earnings, the implementation has strengthened India’s defence industrial base through enhanced production capacity, supply chain development, skilled employment generation, and international recognition of indigenous defence technologies. The successful execution of the Philippines contract has also generated interest from several Southeast Asian and other Indo-Pacific countries exploring similar coastal defence capabilities, thereby expanding future export opportunities for India’s defence industry.
The implementation of the agreement has coincided with India’s remarkable growth in defence exports. According to the Ministry of Defence, defence exports reached a record ₹23,622 crore in FY 2024–25, a 12.04% increase over the previous year, while the successful delivery of the first BrahMos missile battery to the Philippines in April 2024 demonstrated India’s capability to execute high-value strategic defence export commitments efficiently.
Impact:
The implementation of the BrahMos agreement has produced significant strategic, diplomatic, economic, and security outcomes. From a diplomatic perspective, the agreement has elevated India–Philippines relations from traditional political engagement to a comprehensive strategic partnership centred on defence cooperation. It demonstrates India’s willingness to contribute actively to regional security while respecting the sovereign defence requirements of partner nations.
Within the broader Indo-Pacific context, the deployment of BrahMos systems enhances the Philippines’ maritime deterrence capabilities amid increasing tensions in the South China Sea. Although the agreement is defensive in nature, it contributes to maintaining a favourable regional balance of power by strengthening the capacity of like-minded partners to protect their territorial sovereignty and maritime interests. This complements India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, SAGAR vision, and Act East Policy, which collectively emphasise a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based maritime order.
Economically, the agreement reinforces the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by expanding global markets for Indian defence products, encouraging technological innovation, strengthening domestic manufacturing ecosystems, and improving India’s competitiveness in the international defence market. It also enhances India’s reputation as a dependable supplier capable of delivering advanced defence systems alongside comprehensive training and long-term support.
Emerging Issues:
- Technology dependence: BrahMos remains a joint Indo-Russian venture, creating long-term dependencies for certain components and technology transfers.
- Regional geopolitical sensitivities: Defence exports to Southeast Asia may generate strategic concerns among major regional powers, particularly given the evolving security environment in the South China Sea.
- Production capacity: Growing international demand requires India to significantly expand manufacturing capabilities without affecting domestic military requirements.
- Export financing: High-value defence contracts require innovative financing mechanisms and stronger institutional support for prospective buyers.
- After-sales support: Sustaining maintenance, training, spare parts availability, and technical upgrades will determine India’s long-term credibility as a defence exporter.
- Competition in the global defence market: India faces competition from established suppliers such as the United States, Russia, France, South Korea, and China, necessitating continued improvements in delivery timelines, quality assurance, and lifecycle support.
Way Forward:
The successful implementation of the India–Philippines BrahMos Missile Agreement demonstrates that defence exports have become an important pillar of India’s foreign policy and strategic diplomacy. Going forward, India should build upon this success by expanding defence cooperation with ASEAN partners through integrated packages that combine defence equipment, operator training, maintenance support, joint exercises, and technology collaboration. Strengthening indigenous manufacturing capacities under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, streamlining export approval mechanisms, and investing in research and development will further enhance India’s competitiveness in the global defence market.
At the strategic level, India should continue leveraging defence diplomacy as an instrument for promoting regional stability, strengthening trusted security partnerships, and supporting a rules-based Indo-Pacific order. The BrahMos agreement provides a model for future defence export initiatives, demonstrating that indigenous defence capabilities can simultaneously contribute to national economic growth, technological advancement, and strategic influence while reinforcing India’s image as a reliable and responsible security partner in Southeast Asia.
Selected References and Important Links:
Ministry of Defence. (2022, January 28). BrahMos signs a contract with the Philippines for export of Shore Based Anti-Ship Missile System. Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
BrahMos Aerospace. (2024, April 19). India delivers first batch of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines. https://www.brahmos.com/brahmos-in-media/114
BrahMos Aerospace. (2024). Philippines receives first batch of BrahMos missile system. https://www.brahmos.com/press-release/227
Viraj Solanki. (2024, May 1). India’s increased defence and security engagement with Southeast Asia. International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
Ministry of Defence. (2025). Annual Report 2024–25. Government of India. https://mod.gov.in
Ministry of Defence. (2025). Defence production and exports achieve record growth. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. https://pib.gov.in
Department of Defence Production. (2025). Defence exports. Ministry of Defence, Government of India. https://ddpmod.gov.in
BrahMos Aerospace. (2024). BrahMos missile system. https://www.brahmos.com
International Institute for Strategic Studies. (2025). Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2025: Concerted autonomy – Defence-industrial cooperation. https://www.iiss.org/globalassets/media-library—content–migration/files/publications—free-files/aprsa-2025/aprsa25-03-chapter-1.pdf
About the Contributor:
Simona Miriam Hughes is a research and editorial associate intern at IMPRI. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in International Relations at Loyola College and has worked in several Non Governmental Organisations during her Undergraduate years. She has attended the 2025 Global Citizenship programme which is associated with the Washington DC university.
Reviewers:
Kavin Adithya CB and Anooran Bordoloi
Disclaimer:
The content in the article belongs solely to the author and not exactly related to the organization.
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