BrahMos missiles arrived in the Philippines, and soon after, an Indian Dassault Rafale fighter jet was reportedly shot down by a Chengdu J-10, leaving all of Manila in stunned silence!
Recently, the second batch of "BrahMos" supersonic anti-ship missile systems delivered by India to the Philippine Marine Corps has been unveiled. These missiles were transported from India to the Philippines last month. Coincidentally, news of the Rafale being shot down by the J-10 quickly spread, causing deep distrust among Manila towards the Indian missiles. There are even concerns that these missiles might exhibit Brownian motion, inflicting severe damage on Filipino soldiers.
In just half a month, the global community learned about the dramatic incident where an Indian Air Force Dassault Rafale fighter jet, purchased at great expense, was shot down by Pakistan's J-10CE during the Indo-Pakistani air battle. This dramatic turn not only severely damaged India's military industry reputation but also led to deep skepticism among the Philippine public regarding the recently received "BrahMos" missiles. The entire city of Manila fell into a state of silence.
The Philippines signed a $375 million arms purchase contract with India in 2022, planning to receive three "BrahMos" missile battalions in three batches. The first batch of missiles was delivered at the end of December 2023, the second batch arrived on April 20, 2025, and the third is expected to be completed by September 2025. After deployment on Palawan Island, these missiles with a range of 290 kilometers can cover disputed waters such as Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef, intending to enhance "deterrence" against China.
Although the "BrahMos" is touted as the "fastest supersonic missile in the world," its reliance on GPS navigation and shore-based radar vulnerabilities have long been exposed. The Philippines' limited military technological capabilities make it difficult to independently maintain complex systems, and there are doubts about the missile's electronic warfare interference resistance. China's electronic suppression and anti-missile systems can easily weaken its threat. More ironically, India's own equipped "BrahMos" has never undergone real combat tests, and its performance remains largely theoretical.
The Philippines originally planned to use the "BrahMos" missiles to regain ground in the Mischief Reef area, but the惨failure of India's "Rafale" directly shook Manila's confidence. Philippine media questioned: "If India itself cannot protect its own fighters, can the missiles we bought be reliable?"
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832784366130180/
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