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The
Philippines is in the late stages of a five-year, 300 billion
pesos ($5.85 billion) project to modernise its military's
outdated hardware that includes warships from World War Two and
helicopters used by the United States in the Vietnam War.
Under the deal negotiated with the government of India, Brahmos
Aerospace Private Ltd will deliver three batteries, train
operators and maintainers, and provide logistics support,
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a Facebook post late
on Friday.
It was conceptualised in 2017, but faced delays in budget
allocation and due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The new anti-ship system aims to deter foreign vessels from
encroaching on the country's 200 nautical mile exclusive
economic zone.
In 2018, the Philippines bought Israeli-made Spike ER missiles,
its first-ever https://www.reuters.com/article/philippines-defence-idINKBN1I3193
ship-borne missile systems for maritime deterrence.
Despite friendlier ties between China and the Philippines under
President Rodrigo Duterte, Beijing has remained adamant in
claiming large portions of the South China Sea, a conduit for
goods in excess of $3.4 trillion every year. Brunei, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have lodged competing
claims.
A 2016 international arbitration ruling, however, said the
Chinese claims had no legal basis.
($1 = 51.31 Philippine pesos)
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Muralikumar
Anantharaman)
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