Filipino Marines Train to Use World's Fastest Anti-Ship Cruise Missile
The first batch of Filipino Marines completed their initial training on using the BrahMos Missile co-developed by India and Russia. It is the world’s fastest cruise missile.
According to the EurAsian Times, they were decorated with interim pins by the Indian Navy, which oversaw their training:
On February 17, a batch of twenty-one Philippines marines completed hands-on training focused on the operation and maintenance of the newly-purchased BrahMos anti-ship supersonic cruise missile. The training took place between January 23 and February 11, 2023. The batch of personnel was presented with interim missile badges and pins by the Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, at the valedictory ceremony for the Operator Training of the Shore Based Anti-Ship Missile System.
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The Philippines is the first buyer of the BrahMos Missile
The Economic Times describes the BrahMos missile deal as a “major boost to India’s defense export plans.”
As of this writing, the Philippines is the only foreign country to have purchased the Indian-Russian cruise missile from BrahMos. The deal is expected to strengthen the defense ties between India and the Philippines, which have not traditionally kept close defense or military ties.
A Very Difficult Missile to Shoot Down
According to the manufacturer’s website, the BrahMos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage, which brings it to supersonic speed when it gets separated. The second-stage boosters use liquid ramjet, which accelerates the missile’s speed to nearly Mach 3 or three times the speed of sound.
“Stealth technology and guidance system with advanced embedded software provides the missile with special features,” writes BrahMos.
This simply means the BrahMos missile was engineered so it will be very difficult to shoot it down once it is launched.
Among its special features are a low radar signature, high supersonic speed throughout the flight, and shorter flight times, which means the target will have little time to counter or engage the missile.
The Philippines has been rapidly modernizing its armed forces and acquiring missiles, attack helicopters, frigates, patrol ships, and other military hardware to secure the West Philippine Sea. With the use of the potent BrahMos missiles, it is now looking at deterring unfriendly nations from occupying the West Philippine Sea.
The BrahMos missiles are touted as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles that have a range of up to 400 kilometers and a speed of 2.5 Mach or over twice the speed of sound.
In January 2022, former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed the BrahMos deal worth $374 million or P19.18 billion. According to Lorenzana, the missiles will be used for the coastal defense of the Philippines. “The Coastal Defense Regiment of the Philippine Marines will be the primary employer of this modern strategic defense capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Lorenzana.
