India has landed two export deals for its BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, valued at roughly 40 billion rupees ($450 million), Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently announced. He did not reveal the customer nations.
These contracts, signed over the past month, are the first new BrahMos exports since the Philippines purchased three coastal defense batteries in 2022 for 18.9 billion Philippine pesos ($322 million). While countries like Vietnam and Indonesia have shown interest in acquiring the system, no agreements have been finalized with them so far.
A Boost for India’s Missile Technology
The new orders highlight India’s growing success in defense exports and validate its long-term investment in indigenous missile technology. They also reinforce the operational reputation of the BrahMos system, which has been deployed by the Indian Armed Forces, including during the May clashes with Pakistan.
Singh noted, “Whether it’s the export of the BrahMos to the Philippines or cooperation with other countries in the future, India is now playing the role of a giver, not just a taker.” Displaying the first batch of BrahMos missiles produced at a new facility in Uttar Pradesh, he added, “This is the true identity of Aatmanirbhar Bharat — self-reliant India — the vision Prime Minister Narendra Modi set forth in 2014.”
BrahMos Missile Overview
Jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the BrahMos can reach speeds of up to Mach 3. The two-stage missile features a solid-propellant booster and a liquid-fueled ramjet sustainer engine, capable of striking land and sea targets up to 490 kilometers (302 miles) away.
Flying along a sea-skimming trajectory for low radar visibility, the missile carries a 300-kilogram (661-pound) conventional warhead with high accuracy. Multiple variants are available, including coastal defense, ship-launched, air-launched, and a potential future submarine-launched version.
These latest export deals underline India’s emergence as a growing player in global defense technology while showcasing the BrahMos missile’s cutting-edge capabilities.
