The Philippines is looking to procure more defense equipment from India, citing affordability and quality. According to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., the country is already in the process of ordering additional equipment and weapon systems from India.

Brawner highlighted the cost-effectiveness of Indian defense products, stating that while the quality is high, the prices are more competitive compared to those from other countries. He made these remarks during an interview aboard the Indian naval tanker INS Shakti (A-57).

While the AFP chief refrained from specifying the exact types of military equipment being considered for procurement due to security concerns, he confirmed that India is still in the process of delivering the BrahMos cruise missile systems previously ordered by the Philippines. He stated that two more sets of BrahMos systems are expected to arrive in the coming years.

In January 2022, former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and BrahMos Aerospace Director General Atul Dinkar Rane signed a contract for three BrahMos cruise system batteries, amounting to PHP18.9 billion. A standard battery typically includes three to six launchers, along with monitoring and tracking components and logistical support vehicles. The initial BrahMos batteries were delivered in April of last year, but there have been no further updates regarding their status from the Department of National Defense and the AFP.

The Philippines' interest in Indian defense equipment aligns with its ongoing efforts to modernize its military. The country has been working to upgrade its hardware, which includes warships from World War II and helicopters used in the Vietnam War.

The developing defense partnership between the Philippines and India also includes maritime cooperation. The Philippine Navy (PN) is scheduled to conduct a bilateral maritime cooperative activity with Indian Navy ships in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This activity is planned to coincide with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s visit to India. Brawner emphasized that the joint activity is not intended as a show of force but rather as a "show of unity" and "show of solidarity" among nations that support a free and open Indo-Pacific region. He also noted that this will be the first activity of its kind in the West Philippine Sea.

In early August 2025, three ships from the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet, including the guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore (D-60), the anti-submarine corvette INS Kiltan (D-30), and the naval tanker INS Shakti, arrived in Manila for a port visit.