India’s missile shield: 'Pralay' may soon join 'Brahmos' in Philippines amid South China Sea crisis

After acquiring the BrahMos missile system in 2022 for coastal defense, the Philippines is reportedly showing interest in procuring another Indian missile 'Pralay'. If finalized, this would be the country’s second major missile procurement from India, significantly expanding bilateral defense cooperation. The Pralay is a tactical surface-to-surface ballistic missile designed for high-precision land attacks. Manila’s interest in the Pralay comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, where China has stepped up military activity. Beijing has deployed advanced HQ-9B long-range air defense systems, anti-ship cruise missiles, and expanded runways. In response, the Philippines is seeking to enhance its deterrence capabilities. While BrahMos, which is being deployed to defend Philippine coastlines and deter Chinese naval movements, is primarily a maritime strike missile, Pralay offers the potential to complement this capability by targeting land-based threats. As a land-attack ballistic missile, Pralay would give Manila a new layer of strategic deterrence, especially amid China’s growing regional assertiveness.