India’s expanding defence partnership with the Philippines could soon extend beyond the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with the indigenous Akash air-defence system emerging as a potential next major Indian export to Manila. According to a Financial Express report, a deal valued at approximately $200 million for the Akash system could materialize in 2026, potentially becoming one of India’s most significant missile export agreements following the landmark BrahMos contract. The report also suggested that the successful BrahMos programme has strengthened the prospects for a potential Akash sale.
The proposed acquisition would be particularly notable as it could provide the Philippines with a second Indian-made missile capability, this time focused on ground-based air defence rather than long-range anti-ship operations. The Akash system is designed to protect critical military installations and strategic assets against a range of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial systems.
The Philippines has already established itself as the first major international customer for BrahMos. Manila signed a $375 million agreement in 2022 for three shore-based BrahMos missile batteries, which have since been delivered. Interest in additional Indian defence equipment has grown as the Philippines continues to strengthen its military capabilities amid rising security concerns in the South China Sea.
There are also indications that Manila has been evaluating the Akash system. In February 2025, Reuters reported that India was anticipating a missile agreement worth more than $200 million with the Philippines, with Manila expressing interest in the Akash air-defence platform. Indian sources indicated that an order could be placed during the fiscal year beginning in April.
Should the Philippines move forward with the acquisition, India’s role would evolve from supplying a single advanced offensive weapon to contributing multiple layers of the country’s broader defence architecture. Such a development could hold considerable strategic importance for New Delhi, reinforcing India’s position as an alternative defence supplier for nations seeking to diversify their procurement beyond traditional Western or Chinese systems.
For the Philippines, the combination of BrahMos for long-range coastal and anti-ship strike missions and Akash for ground-based air defence would provide two complementary capabilities from the same emerging defence partner, further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries.
