Context: India has dispatched a second batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to the Philippines, fulfilling its contractual obligation signed in 2022. India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines in 2024.
India has also trained the Philippines Navy personnel to handle the cruise missile system, which it has bought to scale up its defence capabilities owing to increasing threat from China in the South China Sea.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Brahmos Missile.
About Brahmos
Supersonic BrahMos missile:
- BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 or almost three times the speed of sound.
- It has been jointly developed by India and Russia.
- It is a two-stage missile (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in the second stage) with a range of 290 km.
- The multiplatform missile can be launched from land, air, and sea with pinpoint accuracy during day and night irrespective of weather conditions.
Special features of BrahMos:
- Universal for multiple platforms
- Stealth technology and guidance system
- “Fire and Forget” principle of operation.
- Pinpoint accuracy with high lethal power
- Quicker engagement time and non-interception by any known weapon system.
Significance
- Enhance the multi-directional maritime strike capability of the Indian Armed Forces.
- Boost indigenous production of the critical weapon system and ammunition with the active participation of indigenous industries.
- Generate employment of more than 90,000 man-days over a period of four years.