Days after the “accidental firing” of an Indian missile which landed in Pakistan, the Philippines, which is buying BrahMos missiles from India, reached out to India and sought an explanation on what had happened.
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, one of the most senior ministers in the Philippines cabinet led by President Rodrigo Duterte, had called in Shambhu S Kumaran, Indian ambassador in Manila.
Kumaran told Lorenzana there was no technical issue with the missile systems and an “enquiry was underway”. He also conveyed that as and when the probe details are available, it will be shared with the authorities.
The accidental firing of the missile — it was believed to be a BrahMos but there was no official word on that — triggered some concern in Manila. On January 28 this year, the Philippines signed a deal to buy three batteries of the BrahMos missile which is developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
Manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace in India, the Philippines deal is worth nearly $375 million, and is being touted as India’s first significant defence export.
