Richard Heydarian is an Asia-based academic, columnist and author of "The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt Against Elite Democracy" and the "The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery."
After years of negotiations and uncertainty, the Philippines and India have finalized the much-ballyhooed BrahMos supersonic missile deal. With a price tag of $375 million, it marks a milestone for India's burgeoning defense industry, especially as the South Asian powerhouse tries to reduce its dependence on large-scale arms imports.