Asia's Arms Race Accelerates as Russian-Made Missiles Reach the Philippines

The military buildup across the Indo-Pacific is producing fresh evidence of new weapons crossing borders. The Russian agency RIA Novosti reported new details on the delivery of BrahMos cruise missiles to the Philippines, the supersonic system jointly developed by Russia and India that Manila has acquired to bolster its coastal defenses amid maritime tension with China.

At the same time, India is recalibrating its own programs. TASS, citing the Economic Times, reported that the Indian defense ministry is considering delaying production of its Zorawar light tank by about two years, a sign that even fast-arming states face development and budget constraints.

Both reports come from Russian state outlets, which have an interest in highlighting weapons tied to Russian technology, so the framing should be read with that in mind. The underlying trend, however, is documented across the region. As maritime confrontations with China multiply, Asian governments are expanding their militaries and, increasingly, exporting arms, a dynamic that adds a structural premium to regional security risk.