India and Indonesia are nearing the completion of a $450 million defense deal for the supply of BrahMos cruise missiles, according to Indian media reports. The discussions took place during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to New Delhi, where he attended the 75th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.
As part of his visit, President Prabowo, accompanied by a high-level delegation including Indonesian Navy Chief Admiral Muhammad Ali, toured the headquarters of BrahMos Aerospace, a Russian-Indian consortium. The delegation was briefed on the advanced capabilities of the BrahMos missile system, including its high speed, extended range of up to 500 kilometers, and its versatility in being launched from land, air, and sea platforms.
If finalized, Indonesia will become the second Southeast Asian nation to acquire the BrahMos missile after the Philippines, which received its first batch in 2022 as part of a $375 million agreement. BrahMos Aerospace is also reportedly in talks with other nations, including Vietnam, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia, to expand its international client base.
The BrahMos missile is a precision strike weapon designed for long-range engagement of ground and maritime targets. With its extended range and capability to operate across various platforms, it is seen as a valuable addition to Indonesia’s defense modernization efforts. During the meetings, Jakarta also expressed interest in collaborating with India on aircraft carrier construction, signaling a broader defense partnership between the two nations.
In a joint statement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Prabowo reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defense ties, emphasizing maritime security and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. Both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation under the 2018 bilateral maritime pact and enhance collaboration through regional mechanisms to ensure safe sea lanes.
President Prabowo praised India’s advancements in domestic defense manufacturing and expressed Indonesia’s desire to learn from India’s expertise. India, in turn, offered to support Indonesia’s defense modernization by sharing technical knowledge and fostering collaboration through the Joint Defense Cooperation Committee.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the growing importance of defense and space cooperation between the two nations, calling Indonesia a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision. She emphasized the strong multilateral ties between India and Indonesia, including their collaboration through platforms like BRICS, which Indonesia recently joined as a permanent member.
