Marcos eyes more BrahMos missiles

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed the Philippines’ openness to acquiring more Indian-made defense systems, including additional BrahMos missiles and naval equipment, as the country ramps up its military modernization in response to rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

- By ARGYLL GEDUCOS

“We are not girding up for war,” Marcos said in an interview with Indian news website Firstpost. “We are simply reacting to the challenges that we are facing. Those challenges, in terms of defending our maritime territory, have increased in the past years,” he added.

Marcos emphasized that the defense buildup is not intended to provoke conflict but is instead a constitutional responsibility. “It is our duty to defend the country,” he said.

The President said the Philippines is already considering purchasing more units of the BrahMos missile system, after becoming the first foreign buyer of the Indian supersonic cruise missile.

The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile system developed as a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The missile is known for its high speed, precision, and ability to be launched from various platforms, including land, sea, and air.