3 days ago

India’s BrahMos export push gains momentum

India’s BrahMos missile export drive is gathering pace, with Vietnam already having signed a deal and Indonesian authorities now said to have finalized a preliminary framework to buy the supersonic missile system, according to Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore over the weekend, Singh said the Vietnam agreement had already been signed, though it had not yet been publicly announced. “My understanding is that with both Indonesia and with Vietnam, the deal is in the final stages… in fact, for Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced, but it’s already been signed,” Singh said.

He also said the Indonesia deal was in its final stages, suggesting India is turning BrahMos into a credible export weapon in a region that is increasingly focused on maritime deterrence and long-range strike capability. Vietnam would become the second Southeast Asian country to induct the missile, after the Philippines received its first batch in April last year under a $375 million agreement signed in 2023. The new interest from Jakarta and Hanoi reflects broader security anxieties in the region, where governments are reassessing coastal defence and sea-lane protection.

New phase, new technology

The next phase of the BrahMos project could be even more ambitious. The system may eventually be jointly developed around Russia’s Zircon hypersonic missile, opening the door to a faster and more advanced version of the platform. That would give BrahMos a further strategic edge as regional militaries continue to invest in anti-ship and long-range strike systems.

BrahMos already has a strong export story. The missile was jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, and it can be launched from ships, submarines, land platforms and aircraft.

Originally capped at around 180 miles, it has since been upgraded for longer range, increasing its appeal to foreign buyers looking for a versatile deterrent system. The missile was first unveiled at the MAKS-2001 airshow in Moscow.

The commercial side is also strengthening. BrahMos Aerospace posted record revenue in the last fiscal year, according to the DRDO, underscoring the system’s growing importance not only as a strategic asset but also as a defence-industrial success story. That matters because India is trying to move beyond being one of the world’s largest arms importers and establish itself as a supplier of sophisticated weapons to friendly states in Asia.

The combination of confirmed and near-final export deals, possible next-generation co-development and record revenue suggests BrahMos is no longer just a symbol of India-Russia defence cooperation. It is becoming one of India’s most visible military exports and a test case for how far New Delhi can go in turning indigenous capability into geopolitical influence.