India has signed an agreement to export the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to Vietnam, while a similar deal with Indonesia is in the final stages, media reports said.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said during the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore that the Vietnam agreement has been signed but has not yet been publicly announced. He added that discussions with Indonesia are nearing completion and could be finalised soon.
According to media reports, the Vietnam deal is valued at around Rs 5,800 crore and includes coastal defence missile batteries, an initial supply of missiles, along with training and logistics support. Reports also suggest Vietnam may later acquire the air-launched version of the system.
The Philippines became the first foreign buyer of the BrahMos system in 2022 after signing a deal worth about $375 million. With Vietnam and Indonesia, Southeast Asia is emerging as an important market for India’s defence exports.
BrahMos missile is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. It is capable of travelling at nearly Mach 3, making it one of the fastest operational cruise missiles in the world.
The missile can be launched from land, sea and air platforms. Its speed, precision strike capability and ability to evade interception systems make it a significant asset for coastal and maritime defence operations.
The development comes amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines have competing territorial claims with China. Several countries in the region have been expanding defence capabilities in response to security concerns.
India’s defence exports have reached record levels in 2024–25, with the government targeting Rs 50,000 crore in annual defence exports by 2030. Reports suggest countries including Malaysia and Thailand are also exploring possible acquisitions of the system.
