India is planning to sell short-range missiles to the Philippines this year. This deal is expected to be worth over $200 million and is part of India’s efforts to strengthen defense ties with the Philippines, especially as tensions with China rise. The missile system they want to sell is called the Akash, which can hit targets up to 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) away. The Philippines is very interested and has said it will place an order when its new budget starts in April.
Last year, India sold the Akash system to Armenia for $230 million, making the upcoming Philippine deal even bigger. The exact number of missiles and other equipment, like radar systems, hasn’t been shared by the sources, who asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons.
India’s Bharat Dynamics Ltd., the company that makes these missiles, showcased its products at an Asian Defense Exhibition in Manila last year. While Indian officials could not confirm this deal, a Philippine defense spokesperson mentioned that the military is looking to improve its capabilities.
This missile sale follows India’s $375 million sale of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines in 2022, showing that the Philippines is focused on building up its military. The country and China have had ongoing disagreements about territory in the busy South China Sea.
While India is known for being a major arms importer, it is now working on making more weapons at home and selling them abroad. This shift was partly influenced by clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in 2020. The Philippines is also planning to buy more military gear, including more BrahMos missiles from India and at least two submarines.
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