According to a posting by the MaxDefense Philippines Facebook account on June 1, 2020, the Philippines is considering procuring the ground-based Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missile system from India.
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BrahMos supersonic cruise missile fired from INS Chennai during TROPEX 2017. (Image source Wikimedia)
The BrahMos development is based on the Russian-made P-800 Oniks/Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missile. BrahMos propulsion is based on Oniks, while the guidance system was developed by BrahMos Aerospace. The first flight test involving the BrahMos anti-ship missile was carried out on June 12, 2001 at the interim test range in the state of Orissa, India.
On-board BrahMos missiles can carry a 200 kg semi-armor-piercing conventional warhead. According to India, the Brahmos missile is considered the fastest low-altitude missile in the world. It has a maximum firing range of 500 km.
The Brahmos missile is powered by a two-stage power plant, with a solid-fuel rocket providing the first stage, accelerating the missile to supersonic speeds, and with a liquid-fueled ramjet as the second stage, accelerating it to a maximum speed of Mach 2.8.
Block III features advanced guidance and upgraded software, incorporating elevated multi-point maneuvers and steep high-altitude dive. The Block III’s steep dive ability allows it to hit targets hidden behind a mountain range. It can engage ground targets as low as 10 meters for precision strikes without any collateral damage. It is capable of being launched from multiple platforms such as submarines, ships, aircraft and land-based Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MALs).
