India Nears $450 Million BrahMos Missile Deals With Vietnam, Indonesia

New Delhi, Dec 24 (KNN) India is close to finalising export agreements worth around Rs 4,000 crore (about USD 450 million) to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, defence sources said.

During a delegation-level meeting in early December between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov, Moscow gave a verbal assurance that it has no objections to India exporting the precision-strike weapon to Vietnam and Indonesia. 

Expanding ASEAN Defence Ties

The deals will make Vietnam and Indonesia the second and third ASEAN countries, after the Philippines, to procure BrahMos missiles from India. 

In January 2022, India signed a USD 375 million contract with the Philippines for three coastal anti-ship missile batteries, and further orders from Manila are being considered.

The growing interest in BrahMos in Southeast Asia comes against the backdrop of shared security concerns over China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, which has intensified tensions, particularly between Manila and Beijing.

Strategic and Technical Edge

India has upgraded the BrahMos missile’s range from 290 km to 450 km, enhancing its strike capability. 

BrahMos systems have become a central part of India’s conventional armed forces, deployed across the Indian Air Force, Navy and Army. The extended-range variant with an 800 km strike range is expected to enter induction around 2028.

Beyond BrahMos, India is seeking to expand defence exports by offering other indigenous systems such as the Akash air defence missile system and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems to ASEAN partners and other friendly countries.

The prospective BrahMos pacts with Vietnam and Indonesia underscore India’s growing role as a trusted defence partner in the Indo-Pacific and reflect broader strategic cooperation in the region.

(KNN Bureau)