Indonesia is likely to become the third ASEAN country to acquire the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, after the Philippines and Vietnam, as negotiations for a deal enter their final stages.
The development comes as India steadily expands its defence exports in Southeast Asia and strengthens security partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
The momentum received a major boost at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh publicly confirmed that India has already signed a BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam.
The announcement marked the first official confirmation of an agreement that had been under discussion for several years. According to Reuters, the Vietnam contract is estimated to be worth about $629 million, or roughly ₹59.76 billion (₹5,976 crore), including missiles, training and logistical support.
Vietnam thus becomes the second ASEAN nation after the Philippines to purchase the missile system. The Philippines was the first foreign customer for BrahMos, signing a $375 million contract in 2022 for shore-based anti-ship missile batteries. Deliveries under that contract have already begun, establishing the missile as India’s most successful defence export product to date.
Speaking in Singapore, Singh also said that a BrahMos agreement with Indonesia was now in the final stages of negotiation. He added that India was willing to share advanced defence technologies with friendly countries, reflecting New Delhi’s broader approach of combining strategic partnerships with defence-industrial cooperation.
The emerging pattern is significant. Within a span of a few years, BrahMos has moved from being a weapon used exclusively by the Indian armed forces to becoming a major export platform for India’s defence industry. If the Indonesian deal is concluded, three ASEAN countries will have acquired the missile system, giving India an expanding security footprint in one of the world’s most strategically important regions.
Beijing is unlikely to be pleased with these developments.
Vietnam’s acquisition is the result of a long period of defence engagement between New Delhi and Hanoi. Discussions on a possible BrahMos transfer have been underway for years and were part of broader efforts to deepen defence-industrial cooperation. Military exchanges, training programmes, naval interactions and high-level defence dialogues have steadily strengthened ties between the two countries.
The announcement follows another round of defence engagement between India and Vietnam earlier this month, when both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in defence and maritime security. They also discussed potential collaboration in missile systems and maintenance, repair and overhaul services. These talks built on a series of senior-level visits, including those by Vietnamese President To Lam and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
For Vietnam, the BrahMos provides an important enhancement to maritime defence capabilities. Reports indicate that Hanoi is acquiring the shore-based anti-ship version of the missile, a system designed to strengthen coastal defence and maritime deterrence. The purchase also aligns with Vietnam’s longstanding policy of diversifying defence partnerships and avoiding excessive dependence on any single supplier.
The missile itself has become central to India’s defence export strategy. Jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, BrahMos is widely regarded as one of the fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles in the world. The export version has a range of 290 kilometres and is designed for precision strikes against both maritime and land targets.
One of the missile’s major advantages is flexibility. It can be launched from land-based systems, warships and aircraft. Its high speed, accuracy and low-altitude flight profile have made it a key component of India’s own military inventory and an attractive option for foreign buyers seeking anti-ship and precision-strike capabilities.
The growing interest in BrahMos also reflects wider trends across Southeast Asia. Several countries in the region are modernising their armed forces and investing in maritime security capabilities. Coastal defence systems, anti-ship missiles and long-range precision weapons have become important priorities as regional navies seek to strengthen deterrence and protect maritime interests.
Against this backdrop, India’s ability to secure successive BrahMos export deals is noteworthy. Defence exports have become an increasingly important element of New Delhi’s strategic outreach, particularly under the Act East policy. Unlike traditional defence relationships centred only on training or exercises, missile sales create long-term links involving maintenance, logistics, training and operational cooperation.
The Vietnam agreement therefore represents more than a commercial transaction. It demonstrates India’s growing credibility as a supplier of advanced military systems and highlights the increasing acceptance of Indian-made defence equipment in international markets.
If Indonesia follows through on its negotiations, the BrahMos programme will have achieved another important milestone. Three ASEAN customers in quick succession would underline the missile’s appeal and strengthen India’s position as an emerging defence exporter in the Indo-Pacific.
As Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s remarks in Singapore indicate, New Delhi is seeking not only to sell military hardware but also to build durable strategic partnerships.
The BrahMos missile has become one of the clearest examples of how India is translating that objective into reality.
