Finalization of India-Philippines BrahMos Missile Deal Inching Closer

New Delhi: The Government of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a mission to make the nation's defence a formidable force. Exporting indigenous weapons to friendly nations is also a part of it.

According to reports, India is soon expected to ink a deal with the Philippines for the export of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

"India and Philippines are in an advanced stage of negotiations over the sale of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Export order likely to be placed soon," government sources told news media.

Sources have also revealed that the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) along with BrahMos Aerospace have been lobbying hard for exporting this state of the art missile to friendly foreign countries for the last few months.

Recently, the Indian Government's defence export push got an impetus when the Armenian Government placed orders for a 'made-in-India' weapon locating radars from the DRDO. 

India is likely to seal more orders for the missile system from friendly countries as it is negotiating at an advanced stage with some other nations as well.

The BrahMos has been further upgraded as a result of which its capabilities have been enhanced. Its range has been increased and other modern technologies have been incorporated into it.

Atul Dinkar Rane, a senior scientist, who has worked with DRDO since its inception days has been appointed as the new head of the BrahMos Aerospace Limited.

It is to be noted that the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile had been jointly developed by India and Russia. The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

It happens to be the fastest anti-ship cruise missile currently in operation. It can cruise up to a speed of Mach 2.8 (Mach 1= speed of sound) at maximum with high precision. 

Also, it can be launched from warships, submarines, aircraft and land-based mobile launchers. It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

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