New Delhi: India has moved a step closer to finalising major defence export agreements with Vietnam and Indonesia for the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, with the combined value of the proposed deals estimated to exceed $450 million, defence sources said.
The progress follows confirmation from Russia — the joint developer of the missile system — that it has no objection to the export of BrahMos to the two Southeast Asian nations. The assurance was conveyed during a delegation-level meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov on December 4. A formal no-objection certificate from Moscow is now awaited.
वियतनाम और इंडोनेशिया को ब्रह्मोस मिसाइल निर्यात के सौदे के करीब भारत, रूस को कोई आपत्ति नहीं
रक्षा सूत्रों के अनुसार, इन दोनों देशों के साथ होने वाले ये सौदे कुल मिलाकर 4,000 करोड़ रुपये (लगभग 450 मिलियन डॉलर) से अधिक के होंगे। ब्रह्मोस मिसाइलों के जॉइंट डेवलेपर रूस ने भारत को… pic.twitter.com/taIgysamSj
— RT Hindi (@RT_hindi_) December 23, 2025
Capable of flying at nearly three times the speed of sound, the BrahMos missile reaches speeds of up to Mach 2.8, making it one of the fastest operational cruise missiles in the world. Defence officials indicated that both Vietnam and Indonesia could place follow-on orders once the initial contracts are signed.
With these deals, Vietnam and Indonesia would join the Philippines as ASEAN operators of the air-breathing missile system. India had earlier signed a $375 million contract in January 2022 to supply three anti-ship BrahMos coastal defence batteries to Manila, which is also expected to seek additional missiles.
Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines share growing concerns over China’s assertive posture and expansionist activities in the South China Sea, where tensions — particularly between Manila and Beijing — have intensified in recent years.
India has already operationally deployed extended-range BrahMos missiles, now capable of striking targets up to 450 km away, compared to the original 290 km range. The weapon was integrated with Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets and reportedly used for deep precision strikes during Operation Sindoor in May.
Over the years, India’s armed forces have signed contracts worth around ₹60,000 crore with the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, with the missile emerging as the backbone of India’s conventional precision-strike capability across the Army, Navy and Air Force. Looking ahead, India plans to begin induction of an even longer-range 800 km variant from 2028, with tests underway on an upgraded version featuring a modified ramjet engine.
Beyond BrahMos, India is also pushing exports of indigenous defence systems, including the Akash air defence missile system, which can intercept aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles within a 25-km range, and the Pinaka multi-launch rocket system. These systems are being offered to Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and other friendly nations such as the UAE and Brazil.
Despite remaining among the world’s top three arms importers, India’s defence exports continue to grow. During the 2024–25 fiscal year, the country exported arms, ammunition, defence sub-systems and components worth nearly ₹24,000 crore to around 80 countries. Armenia has emerged as one of India’s largest buyers of complete weapon systems, including Akash missiles, Pinaka rocket launchers and 155mm artillery guns.
The expanding BrahMos footprint in Southeast Asia underscores India’s push to position itself as a credible global defence exporter while strengthening strategic ties with countries facing shared regional security challenges.
