Operation Sindoor has brought the BrahMos missile system into the limelight as the Indian military used it effectively in strikes on Pakistan, marking its first combat use. While India has yet to officially confirm its deployment, Pakistan has acknowledged it. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also confirmed its use while inaugurating a new BrahMos facility in Lucknow alongside Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
As global interest in the BrahMos missile grows, many countries are eager to acquire it for their own defense needs. The Philippines, for instance, signed a landmark deal with India in January 2022 to purchase BrahMos cruise missiles, marking India’s first major defense export. The deal, valued at approximately $375 million, includes three coastal defense batteries, with the first battery delivered in April 2024 and the second expected in April 2025.
India is also negotiating a deal with Indonesia, estimated at around $450 million, for advanced BrahMos missiles. The deal has been in the works for about a decade, and Indonesia is particularly interested in acquiring the advanced version of the missile.
Other nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, are showing significant interest in the BrahMos. Vietnam is looking to purchase the missile for its army and navy, while Malaysia plans to use it with its Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets and Kedah-class warships. Several countries in the Middle East and South America, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Argentina, have also expressed interest in the missile.
Experts believe many of these nations are seeking the BrahMos missile due to China’s increasing military assertiveness in the South China Sea and beyond. Indonesia, for instance, sees the BrahMos as crucial for safeguarding its maritime territorial integrity.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, developed by a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, has a range of nearly 300 kilometers and can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, and land. It flies at nearly three times the speed of sound and can carry a warhead weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms.
India is now focusing on advancing its BrahMos missile technology, with next-generation variants offering lighter weights and longer ranges. As India increases its defense exports, the BrahMos missile is positioned as a critical asset in global defense markets, with countries like Indonesia and Vietnam keen to enhance their military capabilities.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Indian armed forces for their strong response during Operation Sindoor, which used the BrahMos missile to target terror bases in Pakistan, sending a clear message to the world about India’s determination to counter terrorism
