The Philippines is actively looking to India as a strategic blueprint for achieving defense self-reliance. This shift in policy comes as Manila continues to bolster its military capabilities to address regional maritime tensions. A key development in this bilateral relationship was the Philippines' recent purchase of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India, marking a significant step in defense procurement between the two nations.

While the Philippine government has expressed interest in emulating India’s path toward becoming a major arms exporter, defense experts remain cautious. During a recent forum hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, analysts argued that while India’s experience offers valuable lessons, the Philippines faces distinct challenges. Experts suggest that rather than attempting to rapidly build a domestic manufacturing base from scratch, Manila would benefit more from a phased, collaborative approach with New Delhi. This strategy would prioritize incremental technological transfers and joint initiatives over an immediate push for large-scale domestic weapons production, which analysts characterize as an overly ambitious goal given the current state of the Philippine defense industry.