India Delivers BrahMos Missiles to Philippines | 23 Apr 2024
Recently, India delivered BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. India is looking at further expanding defense ties with the Philippines against the backdrop of growing global concerns over China's increasing military assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Brahmos Missiles:
- The BrahMos missile, an Indo-Russian joint venture, has a range of 290 km and is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 (nearly three times the speed of sound).
- BrahMos is named for the rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).
- It is a two-stage missile (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in the second stage).
- It is a multiplatform missile i.e., it can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi-capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions.
- It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle i.e. it does not require further guidance after launch.
- Vietnam, UAE, and Indonesia are among other potential customers of Brahmos missile.
Read more: BrahMos Missiles, South China Sea