New Delhi: In a major step forward in defence exports,  the Philippines could emerge as the maiden buyer of BrahMos supersonic missile systems, jointly produced by India and Russia, amid China’s aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea region.

Both sides are in an advanced stage of negotiations and Manila has set aside a budget for the purchase of the missiles, say news reports. The pandemic had hit the Philippines exchequer delaying its order for the BrahMos missiles, the reports said quoting Manila-based sources.

Export orders by the Philippines are likely to be placed soon and Manila is expected to purchase BrahMos missiles under a “government-to-government deal”. Earlier this year, both sides signed a defence arrangement that would enable export of defence equipment to Manila from India.

Other countries in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, have also expressed their interest to buy BrahMos from India to secure their defence architecture amid Chinese ambitions in SE Asia.

BrahMos is a supersonic missile for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. This universal missile can be launched from ships, mobile launchers, submarines and aircraft. It has network-centric architecture, multiple trajectories, way-point capability, and is capable of engaging any kind of land or naval targets beyond the horizon in a minimum deployment time. It is the only supersonic cruise missile in the world that flies at three times the speed of sound.

India’s ties with the Philippines have been upgraded over the past few years with the two countries expanding their defence partnership and are negotiating a PTA.

Earlier, India extended a $100-million defence-related LoC to Manila. The Philippines, a US ally for decades, has been keen to diversify sources of its defence hardware including from India.