Philippines Considers Indian Military Equipment to Bolster Defence Amid South China Sea Tensions
The Philippines is considering acquiring military equipment from India, such as helicopters, submarines, and fighter aircraft, to bolster its defense capabilities amidst escalating tensions with China in the South China Sea.
During the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, expressed Manila's interest in enhancing defense cooperation with India as part of its broader military modernization strategy.
Concerns Over China’s Actions in South China Sea
General Brawner noted an increase in 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 attributed these incidents to China's contentious "nine-dash line" claim, which seeks to assert control over significant portions of the South China Sea.
To address these challenges, the Philippines is strengthening ties with multiple partners, including the United States, Japan, Australia, France, and India, with joint freedom-of-navigation operations playing a crucial role in its approach.
Expanding India–Philippines Defence Ties
The Philippine military chief commended the success of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile agreement, signed in 2022 for $375 million, representing India's largest defense export. Deliveries of the missile systems have commenced, with the second batch dispatched in 2025.
India has also extended technical support for submarine infrastructure, covering naval training, base development, and ship design.
Interest in Indian Military Platforms
General Brawner disclosed that the Philippines is evaluating several Indian defense platforms to update its outdated military equipment.
These include:
| Equipment | Description |
|---|---|
| Helicopters | Particularly the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| Fighter Aircraft | Potential interest in Tejas light combat aircraft |
| Submarines | To enhance underwater warfare capabilities |
The Philippines is also exploring opportunities for joint manufacturing, technology transfer, and local production with Indian defense firms to boost its domestic defense industry.
Strategic Alignment in the Indo-Pacific
The deepening cooperation signifies a larger strategic alignment between India and the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific, where both nations advocate for 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 defense collaboration.
As Manila accelerates its military modernization program under its Horizon defense plan, Indian defense platforms are emerging as cost-effective and capable options for reinforcing the Philippines' security architecture.
