After the BrahMos cruise missile deal, the Philippines is also buying a batch of Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) from India to enhance its combat capability. Philippines Coast Guard Chief Artemio Abu visited Goa and tested the strength of the ALH by flying in a Dhruv helicopter in coordination with HAL. The HAL chief also said that the Philippines has shown interest in buying indigenous helicopters.
A five-member delegation led by Admiral Artemio Manalo Abu, Chief of the Philippines Coast Guard, visited Goa on August 21 for a bilateral meeting with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The delegation met senior ICG officials at the ICG Headquarters in Goa and visited several ICG facilities, including the Frontline Offshore Patrol Vessel, ICGS Sujit. The delegation also visited Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), one of India’s leading shipbuilding companies. GSL is currently building a number of ships for the Indian Coast Guard and Navy.
The Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) is also looking to acquire new assets and technologies to improve its maritime capabilities. Indian shipbuilding capability was demonstrated to the Philippine delegation while visiting GSL and the aerospace industry, including a customer demonstration flight of the HAL-built ALH Mk-III helicopter. Philippines Coast Guard Chief Artemio Abu tested the strength of the ALH by flying in a Dhruv helicopter in coordination with HAL. The ALH Mk-III is a multi-role helicopter capable of performing a variety of missions, including search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime surveillance.
The Philippines is focusing on modernising its military to meet security challenges, including decades-long territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. The Philippines is a key strategic partner of India in the Southeast Asian region. Bilateral defence and security ties have gained momentum in the last few years, especially in the maritime domain. The Philippines is also a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with which India’s relations have expanded significantly over the past decade.
The Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement that the visit of the Philippine delegation is an important milestone in the Philippines’ cooperation with India. It is expected to further strengthen maritime ties between the two countries and promote regional cooperation, marking a significant step forward in their bilateral relations. India and the Philippines have recently increased their bilateral defence and security cooperation. The Philippines signed a deal earlier last year to buy three batteries of the India-made BrahMos, the world’s deadliest cruise missile, for over $374 million.
