While India’s experience is useful, it is more practical for Manila to cooperate with Delhi in stages than push quickly to manufacture its own weapons, according to analysts.

The Philippines is embarking on military modernisation to prioritise deterrence through an integrated air and missile defence system, mid-range launchers and enhanced radar capabilities.

Defence cooperation was becoming an “important pillar” of the strategic partnership between the two countries, Ignacio said.

He called the BrahMos deal an important component of Manila’s efforts in modernising its military, adding that the missiles were “in sync with the kind of archipelagic defence we want to have”.