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India has signed a deal to export its BrahMos missile system to Vietnam, while a similar agreement with Indonesia is now in the final stages.
Developed jointly by India and Russia, BrahMos is among the fastest cruise missiles in the world, travelling at nearly three times the speed of sound.
What’s going on: the Philippines became the first foreign buyer in 2022 with a $375 million deal. Source-based reports suggest the Vietnam agreement could be worth around $629 million, including training and logistical support.
The confirmation came from Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. While the Vietnam deal has not been officially announced yet, Singh said it has already been signed. Indonesia is expected to follow soon.
Zoom out: several Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, have ongoing territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, one of the world's busiest trade routes. As tensions in the region rise, countries are looking to strengthen their defence capabilities and diversify their military suppliers.
That’s creating an opportunity for India. Through defence exports, military partnerships, and technology sharing.
The bigger shift: over the last decade, India has aggressively expanded its defence manufacturing ecosystem. The government has opened the sector to private players.
State-run companies still account for nearly three-fourths of India’s defence production, while private firms make up the rest. India’s defence manufacturing capabilities have also grown significantly, with three government-owned defence companies now ranking among the world’s top 100 arms manufacturers.
