MANILA, Philippines — While still busy dealing with the country’s internal security threats, the Philippine Army (PA) is also gradually shifting from internal to territorial and external defence with its programmed acquisition of Indian-Russian designed land-based BrahMos supersonic missiles.

“Talks are now ongoing for Philippine Army’s BrahMos missile acquisition project with India,” a senior military official bared, adding that BrahMos supersonic missiles are ideal for the Army’s land-based territorial defence operations.

The BrahMos was developed in 1998 in a joint venture between the defence Research and Development Organisation of India and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia in an inter-government agreement.

The missile system can be launched from land-based mobile vertical launchers, while its variants can also be fired from warships, as well fighter aircraft.

It can attack and disable targets from as far as 290 kilometres when launched, by flying as low as five meters in altitude or at 1,400 altitude as the maximum with a speed of Mach 2.8.

“Once these BrahMos are finally procured and delivered, the Army will have the capability of defending the country from foreign aggressors and other territorial threats in the open seas,” a highly placed military source said.