November 21, 2025: The Philippines recently established the 1st Ground-Launched Missile Battalion. This is the latest unit to become part of the Philippine Army’s Artillery Regiment. This unit has already acquired four Indian-made BrahMos batteries. Each battery has four launchers and each launcher has three missiles. A reloader vehicle carries four missiles. The Philippines is also considering purchasing the American HIMARS guided missile system and the U.S. Typhon missile system that can launch SM-6 sir defense missiles as well as Tomahawk land-attack missiles. Ultimately the Philippines wants to have fifty batteries of various types of missiles. These will be used to protect Filipino land bases and operations against Chinese encroachment in the South China Sea.

Eight Years ago the Philippines decided to equip the two British made AW159 Wildcat helicopters with the Israeli Spike NLOS missile. These missiles are used against surface targets. These two helicopters operate from the frigates the Philippines also ordered from South Korea. Each of these frigates carries an AW159, which is also used by the South Korean Navy and British army and navy. Similar in size and capability to the U.S. SH-60 Seahawk, the six ton Wildcat has a normal endurance of 90 minutes or 270 minutes carrying max fuel, and a top speed of 290 kilometers an hour. For naval service the Wildcat can carry dipping sonar and one or two anti-submarine torpedoes. In cargo mode it can carry seven passengers or half a ton of cargo.

The Spike NLOS/Non Line-Of-Sight is a long-range, 25 kilometers version of the Israeli Spike guided missile. Each one weighs 70kg, twice what the next largest Spike version. Spike is a series of general purpose anti-tank missiles with ranges from 200-25,000 meters. Spike NLOS can be fired at a target the operator cannot see, but someone else, with a laser designator, can see. Spike NLOS is usually fired from helicopters, which can also carry the laser designator. The Philippines wants to use Spike NLOS off their west coast to block Chinese efforts to seize Filipino islands and reefs. The Wildcats can carry four Spike NLOS missiles. A helicopter only has to be about 40 meters above the water to spot something 25 kilometers away. The Spike NLOS has multiple guidance systems, including a live video feed that allows the pilot to fly the missile into to the target, or use the image of the selected target to have the missile home in by itself in fire and forget mode. On the downside Spike NLOS is expensive, costing nearly $300,000 each.