WATCH Video: India Delivers First Set Of BrahMos Missiles To Philippines Amid China Concerns

The delivery of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines was completed by India, pursuant to a USD 375 million deal signed between the two countries in January 2022, on Friday.

A missile and launchers were transported to the Philippines by a military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force for delivery to the country's marine forces.

India Delivers First Set Of BrahMos Missiles To Philippines

A video shared by the ANI news agency depicted a military transport aircraft being prepared to unload the consignment upon arrival in the Southeast Asian country.

Additionally, another video shared by the news agency showcased Indian officials offering sweets to officers of the Philippines Marine Corps following the delivery.

Under the agreement signed in January 2022, Manila will receive three export versions of the high-speed BrahMos missile system from BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, a joint venture of India and Russia.

The deal also encompasses an integrated logistics support package and training for operators and maintainers needed by the island nation for the BrahMos system. Interest in procuring BrahMos missiles from India has been expressed by several other countries, including Argentina, given their versatility in being launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms, as reported by First Post.

The BrahMos missile is renowned for its high velocity, flying at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. India's efforts to enhance defence ties with the Philippines come against the backdrop of growing global concerns over China's increasing military assertiveness in the South China Sea.

There is mounting international apprehension over China's broad claims of sovereignty over the entirety of the South China Sea, which is a significant source of hydrocarbons. Various countries in the region, such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei, have counterclaims to parts of the South China Sea, as per media reports.

As part of its initiatives to strengthen military cooperation with the Philippines, India has decided to assign a defence attache to that country, along with other nations including Ethiopia, Mozambique, Poland, and Ivory Coast.