In early 2025, India anticipated finalising a defense export deal worth over $200 million with the Philippines for which missile system?​

Correct option is B

The correct answer is: (B) Akash Surface‑to‑Air Missile

Explanation:

• In early 2025, India was in advanced negotiations to finalize a defence export deal worth over US $200 million with the Philippines for the Akash Surface‑to‑Air Missile (SAM) system .

• The deal represented India’s second major missile export to the Philippines after the BrahMos cruise missile sale in 2022 .

• The Akash SAM is an indigenous, medium‑range air defense missile system developed by India’s DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) .

• It features a range of approximately 25 km and can engage targets at altitudes up to 18–20 km, with a speed of Mach 2.5 .

• The Philippines’ interest reflects its need to modernize air defenses amid rising tensions in the South China Sea .

• This expected export marks a significant step in India’s growing defense export ambitions, with exports rising nearly 150% to over $2.4 billion in FY 2023–24 .

• The Akash system was previously exported to Armenia (~$230 million deal), showing established precedent in foreign sales .

• (A) BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile: Exported to the Philippines in 2022 under a $375‑million contract—not relevant to the 2025 deal.

• (C) Prithvi Ballistic Missile: A short-range ballistic missile used exclusively by India—never exported.

• (D) Nag Anti‑Tank Guided Missile: An indigenous ATGM system not part of foreign defense export deals with the Philippines.