China will no longer sleep easy. The Philippines has established its first base for the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile - BrahMos - facing the South China Sea. From this vantage point, the Philippines can target China's warships, drones, and aircraft at will.
This new base is located in western Luzon, Philippines. Satellite imagery vividly captures the development of this facility. In 2022, the Philippines finalised a deal for BrahMos missiles with India, acquiring three missile batteries to bolster the Philippine Marine Corps Coastal Defense Regiment's protection against China.
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The new missile base at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in Zamboles, situated to the south of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, is making headlines. Previously a training ground for amphibious assault and coastal defense, it now houses Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicles.
Source: aajtak
India-Philippines Arms Deal: When and How Much?
Weary of China's provocations, the Philippines turned to India. The 2022 agreement with India was valued at ₹31.31 billion. Two years later, India handed over the world’s fastest cruise missiles to the Philippines, a nation 996% smaller in size than India with a population of just 114.6 million.
The Philippines is strategically deploying the missiles obtained from India to counter potential Chinese aggression. The BrahMos acquisition significantly amplifies the Philippine military's firepower, making it one of the few supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from virtually anywhere.
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Philippines Seeks Dual-Capability BrahMos Missiles
The Philippines desires both anti-ship and land-attack BrahMos missiles. Currently, it has received land-attack versions, with BrahMos coming in over six variants. These missiles, weighing from 1,200 to 3,000 kilograms, span 20 to 28 feet in length, carrying nuclear or conventional payloads of 200 to 300 kg. Reaching altitudes up to 15 km, they cover ranges from 290 to 800 km. Impressively, flying just a few feet above the sea renders them virtually invisible to radar, cruising at speeds of 3,704 km/h.
Source: aajtak
An Archipelagic Nation Surrounded by Seas
The Philippines, spanning 343,448 square kilometers, consists of 7,641 islands in the South China Sea. It shares maritime borders with Taiwan, Japan, Palau, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China, ranking as the 12th most populous country in the world.
Faster than the Tomahawk, BrahMos Missiles Avoid Enemy Detection
The BrahMos missile can change course mid-air and annihilate mobile targets. Capable of flying at 10 meters altitude, the missile stays off enemy radars, eluding any missile detection systems and making it nearly impossible to intercept. With a speed doubling that of the American Tomahawk missile, the BrahMos truly represents a formidable addition to the Philippine arsenal.
