The Philippines is exploring the purchase of Indian military equipment, including helicopters, submarines and fighter aircraft, as it seeks to strengthen its defence capabilities amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said Manila is keen to expand defence cooperation with India as part of its broader military modernisation strategy.
Concerns Over China’s Actions in South China Sea
Gen Brawner highlighted increasing confrontations with Chinese vessels, accusing the Chinese Coast Guard of harassing Filipino fishermen and obstructing Philippine Navy ships within Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
He said these incidents stem from China’s controversial “nine-dash line” claim, which asserts control over large parts of the South China Sea.
To counter these challenges, the Philippines has strengthened cooperation with several partners, including the United States, Japan, Australia, France and India, with joint freedom-of-navigation operations becoming a key part of its strategy.
Expanding India–Philippines Defence Ties
The Philippine military chief praised the success of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile deal, signed in 2022 for $375 million, which marked India’s largest defence export. Deliveries of the missile systems have already begun, with the second batch shipped in 2025.
India has also offered technical assistance for submarine infrastructure, including naval training, base development and ship design.
Interest in Indian Military Platforms
Gen Brawner revealed that the Philippines is considering several Indian defence platforms to modernise its ageing military equipment.
These include:
- Helicopters, particularly the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
- Potential interest in Tejas light combat aircraft
- Submarines to strengthen underwater warfare capabilities
The Philippines is also exploring joint manufacturing, technology transfer and local production with Indian defence firms to boost its domestic defence industry.
Strategic Alignment in the Indo-Pacific
The growing cooperation reflects a broader strategic alignment between India and the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific, where both nations support a free and open maritime order.
Recent developments include joint naval exercises between the Indian Navy and the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea in 2025, marking a new milestone in bilateral defence cooperation.
As Manila accelerates its military modernisation programme under its Horizon defence plan, Indian defence platforms are emerging as cost-effective and capable options for strengthening the Philippines’ security architecture.
