SOURCE: AFI
In a provocative critique, Ashley Tellis, a former advisor to the U.S. Department of State and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has raised serious doubts about the operational effectiveness of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles recently acquired by the Philippines.
Speaking to India’s media outlet The Print in an article published on February 28, 2025, Tellis argued that while the $375 million deal marks a significant milestone in Philippines-India defence ties, the Southeast Asian nation lacks the critical infrastructure to fully leverage these advanced weapons. Without robust Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities, he warned, the BrahMos missiles risk being reduced to a symbolic gesture rather than a transformative military asset.
Tellis acknowledged the strategic intent behind the purchase, stating, “The sale of BrahMos missiles is a significant boost to the security of the Philippines.” However, he emphasized a critical shortfall: “The country still lacks the necessary infrastructure to operate them effectively.” Specifically, he pointed to the absence of a sophisticated C4ISR framework—essential for target acquisition, real-time situational awareness, and coordinating missile strikes over vast maritime distances. “The Philippines does not yet possess the C4ISR capabilities required to use the BrahMos missiles effectively,” he told The Print. Without this backbone, he argued, owning the missiles offers “a good symbol, but it will not provide much operational utility.”
C4ISR systems integrate sensors, satellites, radar, and communication networks to provide a comprehensive battlefield picture, enabling commanders to detect, track, and engage targets with precision-guided munitions like BrahMos. For the Philippines, deploying these missiles effectively against potential threats—such as Chinese naval assets in the disputed South China Sea—requires long-range surveillance, over-the-horizon targeting, and secure data links. Tellis’s assessment suggests that Manila’s current capabilities fall short of these demands.
The Philippines’ military modernization has historically lagged, with its defence budget of $4.3 billion in 2024 dwarfed by regional powers like China ($296 billion). While the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) operate U.S.-supplied systems like the AN/TPS-77 radar and have access to American intelligence-sharing under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), analysts on X have noted that these assets are not yet optimized for a standalone missile-centric strategy. The BrahMos, designed to strike ships or land targets at high speed, demands real-time targeting data—something the AFP’s nascent C4ISR network struggles to deliver without significant upgrades.
Tellis’s critique frames the BrahMos acquisition as a geopolitical statement rather than a game-changer for Philippine defence. The deal, India’s first major defence export, strengthens Manila’s ties with New Delhi and signals resolve amid tensions with Beijing over the West Philippine Sea. Posts on X have echoed this sentiment, with users praising the symbolic deterrence value of supersonic missiles in a region dominated by China’s hypersonic-capable DF-17 and carrier-killer DF-21D systems. Yet, Tellis warns that symbolism alone won’t suffice in a conflict scenario.
For instance, targeting a moving naval vessel at 290 km requires precise coordinates updated in real time—a task beyond the Philippines’ current maritime surveillance reach, which relies heavily on U.S. support. Without indigenous satellite coverage or advanced airborne early warning systems, the BrahMos batteries risk being underutilized, relegated to static coastal defence rather than dynamic anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) roles. “It’s a good symbol, but it will not provide much operational utility,” Tellis reiterated, casting doubt on the AFP’s ability to integrate the system into a cohesive strategy.
India, meanwhile, stands by the BrahMos’ proven efficacy. A DRDO official, responding anonymously to The Print, emphasized that the missile’s success in Indian Navy tests—hitting targets with a CEP of less than 10 meters—demonstrates its potential when paired with adequate infrastructure. The official suggested that the Philippines could leverage India’s experience, noting that the Indian Navy’s P-15 destroyers and shore-based batteries rely on indigenous satnav (IRNSS) and radar networks—systems Manila could aspire to replicate.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.