India's BrahMos Missile Deals: What You Need to Know About Vietnam and Indonesia

BrahMos Missile Agreements in Southeast Asia

Singapore: On Saturday, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh announced that a contract for the BrahMos missile with Vietnam has been finalized, while negotiations with Indonesia are nearing completion.

Singh made these remarks during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, addressing inquiries about potential international buyers for the missile system.

"I believe that the agreement with Vietnam has been signed, although it may not have been publicly disclosed yet," Singh stated.

The Philippines became the first international purchaser of the BrahMos missile system from India, signing a deal worth approximately USD 375 million in 2022.

In March, Indonesia confirmed its agreement with India to acquire the BrahMos missile system.

Recent reports indicated that Vietnam was close to finalizing its own deal with India, but Singh's comments mark the first official confirmation of this development.

Details regarding the financial aspects of the agreements with Vietnam and Indonesia have yet to be made public.

Discussing the broader context of advanced defense technology sharing, Singh emphasized that nations typically sell sophisticated weaponry to allies they trust. "You share technology with those you consider reliable partners," he remarked.

He reiterated India's commitment to ASEAN nations, stating, "We regard all of you as friendly foreign countries with whom we can collaborate on advanced defense technologies."

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) includes 11 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

Several ASEAN countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam, have overlapping maritime claims with China in the South China Sea, a crucial global trade route. India's BrahMos exports to this region have garnered attention as New Delhi strengthens its defense relationships with Southeast Asian nations.

During the Shangri-La Dialogue, Singh expressed India's readiness to collaborate with regional partners to establish resilient supply chains, trusted defense alliances, secure maritime areas, and foster innovation. "Resilience has become a key strategic necessity today," he noted.

Highlighting geopolitical uncertainties, conflicts in Europe and West Asia, disruptions in maritime trade, and supply chain vulnerabilities, Singh pointed out that these factors are reshaping global security dynamics.

"Recent experiences have shown that defense readiness cannot rely on fragile or overly concentrated supply chains. Nations need resilient, trusted, diversified, and technologically adaptable defense industrial ecosystems," he stated during a session on "Building Defense Industrial Resilience."

For India, resilience extends beyond self-sufficiency; it involves cultivating trusted partnerships, diverse manufacturing networks, innovation ecosystems, and secure supply chains that enhance both regional and global stability.

Singh also mentioned that India has implemented significant reforms in defense production, innovation, and exports over the last decade. The sector has been opened to increased private-sector involvement, fostering startups and small enterprises, enhancing indigenous design and manufacturing, and expanding collaboration with international partners.

India is not only modernizing its military forces but is also positioning itself as a reliable hub for defense manufacturing and maintenance.

He noted that government-owned enterprises account for nearly 72% of India's defense production, with the private sector contributing the remainder. Three Indian government-owned defense companies rank among the world's top 100 arms manufacturers.

The Indian defense sector has developed capabilities in missile systems, fighter jets, and main battle tanks, while efforts are ongoing to address gaps in propulsion technologies across land, air, and sea domains. "Our goal is not to create exclusive blocs but to foster inclusive and dependable partnerships that enhance collective security and mitigate strategic vulnerabilities," he concluded.