A deal has been signed between India and the Philippines for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
The Philippines has approved a deal worth about $ 374.9 million (Rs 27.89 billion). Both the countries will sign this agreement soon.
This is the first foreign order for the BrahMos missile. According to reports, talks are being held with some more countries of South East Asia regarding BrahMos.
The BrahMos missile will be the first to be deployed in the Coastal Defense Regiment of the Philippines Navy.
Experts say that the Philippines has a dispute with China in the South China Sea. In this context, the importance of this deal increases.
In recent days, when the border dispute between India and China increased, even then it was asked whether India's role in this maritime dispute would also increase?
India has been considering the South China Sea as a neutral place and supports maintaining it.
Experts claim that the BrahMos deal indicates that the closeness between India and the Philippines is increasing on defense matters. They also claim that China does not currently have a missile with a capability like BrahMos.
Why BrahMos Supersonic Missile Special?
BrahMos missile is counted among the fastest supersonic missiles in the world. For India, its deal is very important in terms of strategic and defense exports.
This missile has many qualities and only by taking these defense experts to count it among the best missiles.
This missile has been prepared in a joint venture between India and Russia. It can be released from water, land, and air. This ability is called a triad.
Before India, the reliable capability of Triad exists only with America, Russia, and to a lesser extent France.
Defense experts count BrahMos as one of the fastest supersonic missiles in the world, which has a speed of Mach 2.8 (equivalent to the speed of sound). The range of this missile is 290 km and it can carry 300 kg of heavy war material.
importance for India
The Government of India has been emphasizing becoming self-reliant in the defense sector. For this, restrictions have also been imposed on the import of many items and emphasis is also being laid on the manufacture of many defense equipments in India.
Similarly, India is also aiming to increase exports in the defense sector. India is one of the largest arms importers in the world. But, along with becoming self-reliant, the Indian government wants to improve the situation in the business of defense equipment.
In December last year, the Defense Ministry, in response to a question in Parliament, said that India's defense exports in 2014-15 were Rs 1940.64 crore, while in 2020-21 it increased to Rs 8,435.84 crore.
In the year 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a target of exporting up to five billion dollars to Indian companies related to defense equipment by the year 2025.
According to the English news website The Mint, a separate office has also been created in the Department of Defense Production for coordination and further action on export-related work.
strategic importance
Despite the dispute with China in the South China Sea, the Philippines' purchase of supersonic missiles from India is of great importance.
China and the Philippines have been making their respective claims in the South China Sea. In March last year, the Philippines asked China to remove more than 200 ships, accusing it of encroaching on its waters in the South China Sea.
Philippine Defense Minister Delfil Lorenzana said Chinese ships were violating the Philippines' maritime rights.
The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam have for decades questioned China's claims over the entire South China Sea. In recent years, tensions about this have increased significantly.
China claims a large area known as the "Nine-Dash Line". To give a solid shape to its claims, China has built islands here and has started patrolling the sea. China has prepared a huge military infrastructure here. However, he claims that his motives are peaceful.
Question on China's claim
In the year 2016, an international tribunal ruled against China. This tribunal had said that there is no evidence that China has historically had any right over this area. But, China refused to accept this decision.
This part of the sea, which falls between Indonesia and Vietnam, is spread over about 3.5 million square kilometers. It has been claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. Hundreds of species of creatures are found in this sea area, rich in natural treasures.
Till a few years ago, there was not much tension about this area, but other countries started raising objections to the creation of an artificial island in China and a military base. The US also accuses China of increasing tension in the South China Sea.
In recent days, after the India-China dispute, it was being discussed whether India's role in this maritime dispute would also increase.
But, India has been considering the South China Sea as a neutral place. India believes that this neutrality should be maintained and it is not the sea of any country.
Meaning of the Philippines-India deal
Now the Philippines buying supersonic missiles from India is a message to China somewhere. This deal will further strengthen the relations between India and the Philippines and will boost defense trade between the two countries.
There has also been a border dispute between China and India for a long time. For the past one and a half years, the borders of both countries have stood face to face in the Galvan Valley of Ladakh. At the same time, China continues to claim India's Arunachal Pradesh as well and India strongly opposes it.
In such a situation, India and the Philippines appear almost on the same side in the context of China and experts say that due to their increasing proximity, China may have problems.
The BrahMos missile will also increase the military strength of the Philippines. It is being told that China currently does not have a missile with a capability like BrahMos.
China's Dongfeng missile
Dongfeng (DF)-31AG is an intercontinental ballistic missile, which can have a range of 10,000 km. Apart from this, there is also a medium-range ballistic missile DF-21D. It is also called 'Career Killer'.
The DF-26 and DF-16G ballistic missiles are also on this list.
But, in July last year, China had conducted a test about which experts said that it was a test of a hypersonic missile. Although China said that this was a test related to the re-use of the old spacecraft. America had also expressed concern about this test.
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