SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India is poised to strengthen its defense export portfolio with an anticipated deal to supply the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system to the Philippines this 2025. Valued at over $200 million, this agreement, if finalized, will mark India’s second major defense export contract with Manila, following the successful $375 million sale of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in 2022. While it remains unclear whether the Akash SAM will be destined for the Philippine Army or the Philippine Marine Corps, the deal underscores the growing strategic partnership between the two nations amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
Developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the Akash is a medium-range SAM system designed to neutralize a variety of aerial threats, including fighter jets, cruise missiles, and drones. With a range of up to 25 kilometers and an altitude capability of 18 kilometers, the Akash can engage targets at supersonic speeds of Mach 2.5. Each battery comprises a Rajendra 3D passive electronically scanned array radar and four launchers, each carrying three missiles, enabling it to track up to 64 targets and engage 12 simultaneously.
The system’s mobility—deployable on both tracked and wheeled platforms—makes it versatile for dynamic battlefield conditions, a feature that aligns with the Philippines’ need for flexible air defense solutions. The Akash has been a mainstay of the Indian Army and Air Force since its induction in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and its export variant has already proven its worth internationally, with Armenia receiving its first battery in November 2024 under a $230 million deal.
The Philippines’ interest in the Akash SAM comes as part of its broader military modernization program, spurred by escalating tensions with China over disputed claims in the South China Sea. General Romeo Brawner, Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, emphasized in February 2025 the country’s intent to bolster its arsenal, including additional BrahMos systems and submarines. While he did not explicitly mention the Akash, Reports from Reuters indicate that Manila has signaled its intent to place an order in the fiscal year beginning April 2025.
The Akash could serve either the Philippine Army, enhancing territorial defense capabilities, or the Philippine Marine Corps, which operates under the Navy and has been eyeing shore-based air defense systems. The latter aligns with Manila’s Shore-Based Air Defense Missile System Acquisition Project, for which the Akash was showcased by BDL at the Asian Defense and Security Exhibition in Manila in 2024. Philippine defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, while declining to confirm specifics, acknowledged in February 2025 that the armed forces have “manifested a requirement for these capabilities,” fueling speculation about the deal’s scope.
For India, sealing the Akash deal with the Philippines would be a significant achievement in its quest to expand defense exports under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. Historically the world’s largest arms importer, India has shifted gears since 2020, with exports surging nearly 150% to $2.4 billion by March 2024. The Akash, with its 96% indigenous content, exemplifies this transformation, following its export success to Armenia and drawing interest from nations like Brazil, Egypt, and Vietnam.
The anticipated Philippine deal, reportedly larger than the Armenian contract, could include multiple batteries—potentially four to five systems with accompanying radars and munitions—based on cost estimates and Armenia’s $720 million order for 15 systems. Bharat Dynamics Ltd, which exhibited the Akash in Manila, is expected to lead production, supported by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for radar and ground systems, reinforcing India’s industrial capacity to meet international demand.
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