According to MaxDefense Philippines on January 6, 2025, the Philippine Army is in advanced discussions with India’s BrahMos Aerospace for acquiring additional BrahMos anti-ship missile coastal batteries. These negotiations are part of the Integrated Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (ISBASMS) Acquisition Project, which includes both the Philippine Army and Marine Corps. The revised project aims to acquire nine missile batteries, expanding on the earlier Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (LBASMS) Acquisition Project, which initially proposed two batteries.
The Integrated Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System (ISBASMS) project originated from the Shore-Based Missile System Acquisition Project in 2015, which was later canceled. It transitioned into the Land-Based Missile System (LBMS) Acquisition Project in 2019, which received approval in 2021. Despite this, the LBMS project did not progress to contract signing by the end of 2022, leading to its inclusion in Horizon 3 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP) in January 2023. This revision expanded the project scope to nine batteries, with the procurement process undecided between a single contract or multiple phases.
In April 2024, the Philippines received its first batch of BrahMos missiles under a $375 million agreement signed in 2022. The delivery included missiles, mobile launchers mounted on Tatra 6×6 vehicles, and an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package. Philippine Marine Corps personnel completed operator and maintenance training for the systems, which are configured with two missile launchers per battery to suit tropical environments, differing from the three-launcher configuration used by India. These systems are operated by the Coastal Defense Regiment of the Marine Corps and are designated for deployment in strategic coastal areas to strengthen the country’s defensive capabilities.
The BrahMos missile was developed in the mid-1990s and became operational in 2001. It is based on the Russian P-800 Oniks missile, with modifications made through collaboration between India and Russia. After India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, domestic components were incorporated to minimize import reliance. The missile has been integrated into land-based coastal batteries, naval vessels, and air-launched systems. Discussions are ongoing for its export to Vietnam, Indonesia, and the UAE.
