One Philippine Navy personnel were awarded their interim missile badges and pins by no less than the Indian Navy Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, in a valedictory ceremony for the Operator Training of the Shore Based Anti-Ship Missile System. Said training that ran from 23 January to 11 February 2023 focused on the operations and maintenance of some of the most important logistics package of the SBASMS that will be delivered to the Philippines. The said acquisition was viewed as a boost to the Philippine Navy’s capability to defend the country’s maritime borders.
“The induction of the BrahMos missile into the Philippine Marine Corps will strengthen your maritime capability and will also contribute to our collective maritime security within the region…I sincerely hope that you’ll always cherish the bonds of friendship you had during your stay here” said Adm. Kumar during his valedictory remarks. He congratulated the Officers, Enlisted Personnel and Civilian Human Resource (CivHR) who finished the practical series of the training successfully, and further added that “as pioneers of the system, each have proven his/her capacity as fine ambassador of their country”.
The BrahMos (also designated as PJ-10) is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, airplanes or land, notably being the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world at the time of its introduction. It is a joint-venture between the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, who together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. In 2021 December 31, Brahmos Aerospace Pvt Ltd’s representatives received the Notice of Award (NOA) for the project worth US$374,962,800. A contract signed on 28 January 2022. It includes at least 3 batteries as part of the agreement.
A battery will have at least 3 mobile firing units, plus attached command and control, radar, and support vehicles and units. Each mobile firing unit has 3 ready-to-fire BrahMos anti-ship supersonic missiles, with the export variant having a maximum range of around 290 kilometers. The batteries will be operated by the Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile (SBASM) Battalion of the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment. The training is a critical package included in the Philippine Navy Shore Based Anti- Ship Missile System Project Contract that was signed by the Philippines and India in 2022.
