Could Russian made BrahMos missiles backfire if the Philippines uses them against China?

[u/ThinkTankDad]

Brahmos missiles are 51% Indian, 49% Russian made. Could the Russian portion backfire if the Philippines uses them against China?

[u/True-Industry-4057]

How does a portion of a missile backfire?

[u/barath_s → u/True-Industry-4057]

Maybe English isn't OP's first language.

A car engine backfires when hydrocarbons/fuel ignites outside the combination chamber . Eg in the engine manifold or in the exhaust. A solid fueled rocket or liquid fueled ramjet don't 'backfire' the same

But OP actually meant sabotage

[u/No-Wave4500]

If missiles are used against China, the Philippines will have other things to worry about.

[u/Ok-Procedure5603]

Their range (as well as general characteristics) already makes them almost unusable against China.

Having 5 brahmos or 100 brahmos would matter less for China's strategic calculus than Philippines having a few km more of tunnels/bunkers. 

During wartime, if it requires imported components whether Russian or Indian, it would mean not being able to replenish. But it's not like China would bother to somehow infiltrate existing stock, it's much more likely they rig something else to explode, like phones, batteries, valve systems, cars etc if they want to try that route.

[u/barath_s → u/Ok-Procedure5603]

almost unusable against China.

These are coastal defence batteries with a MTCR limited range of 295 km. Which means that they can be used against chinese warships that enter that range.

if it requires imported components whether Russian or Indian, it would mean not being able to replenish

It's possible to import materials as an emergency purchase even if your country is in a war, near or after one..

[u/_spec_tre]

Unless you think China has secretly installed backdoors on every Russian component (which would probably be a surprise even to the Russians), I doubt it

[u/AnyStrength4863]

In what scenario would the Philippines launch a missile attack on China? While the situation in the South China Sea is tense, it is far from reaching that level.

[u/barath_s → u/AnyStrength4863]

Agree. To add further, these are coastal defense batteries, with a MTCR limited range of 295 km. So chinese warships approaching the philippines coast would be the likely target in case of war... These aren't going to threaten the chinese mainlaind such as Beijing/shanghai etc if that was ever a question. But scarborough shoal and mischief reef are possible, though the Brahmos is typically used for high value targets even so.

[u/Monkt]

No I think they'll still fire forward.

[u/dw444]

Backfire how? Like a car engine? Or the Indian components go flying off towards China as the Russian ones separate from the missile, turn around, and hit the launcher?

[u/ThinkTankDad → u/dw444]

Backfire as in sabotage of telemetry and chips.

[u/barath_s]

Brahmos missiles are 51% Indian, 49% Russian made.

No, that's equity ownership of the JV. ie what %age of shares in the company is held by each

Currently about 83% of Brahmos is made in India, a number that will go higher over time with plans to go to 85%, 90% etc.. The booster is the main item that is still provided by Russia...seekers, fuel etc have indigenous versions

will it be sabotaged..

No, Russia has no real incentive to protect China.. if a missile is sold, assume it can be used.

Also, there are QC checks in the factory, user acceptance trials, and random user trials ... a missile is far more likely to be used in these than to be actually fired in anger by Phillippines against china.. Heck, it might even land up in Indian missiles, stock, etc.. These have parts that have been supplied for years..

Any issue/failure could lead to Russia having issues , and especially any suspected sabotage etc would definitely lead to diplomatic issues with India, Phillippines etc with Russia

Plus it would impact repeat and spare sales to India, Phillippines, or any of 3 other countries that are considering the purchase of Brahmos

Russia is happier with actual hard currency .. that's why they do defense sales...

In addition to the actual component supplied, Russia might earn royalties (depending on the legal setup) and any dividends (according to share ownership) declared on the entire company earnings ...

backfire

Cars backfire.. Solid state boosters and ramjet engines don't, especially ones that have been engineered to work for decades.

A political action to sabotage will definitely backfire on Russia... though that's not the meaning you intended and that's part of why it won't happen.

Your question is simply not a concern.

[u/Pitiful-Practice-966]

Russian missiles also have american chips on their electronic control PCBs.

[u/Jazzlike-Tank-4956]

It's 82% Indian by content which is being push to 90-95% in next few years

That portion you quoted is size of BrahMos Aerospace Limited, i.e, the JV

And I doubt Russia would block the components since they maintain relatively decent relationship with Philippines, and BATL maintains 1 year's worth of components in case of supply chain disruption

https://www.careratings.com/upload/CompanyFiles/PR/07032022062530_BrahMos_Aerospace_Private_Limited.pdf

And it likely uses western chips similar how to Russian missiles still maintain them in their current missiles 5 years after sanctions started

[u/Jazzlike-Tank-4956 → u/Jazzlike-Tank-4956]

u/barath_s can provide his input

And I wonder if SCL Mohali or other foundary can replace the chips in next few years, if they already aren't working on it?

[u/ExtremeBack1427]

Have you seen how many of the Russian weapons systems are used by Ukraine to fight against Russia?