Why is BrahMos emerging as India’s most sought-after defence export? | Explained
Indonesia’s decision to reach an in-principle agreement with India to procure an additional battery of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system marks another milestone in
Indonesia’s decision to reach an in-principle agreement with India to procure an additional battery of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system marks another milestone in New Delhi’s expanding defence diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific. Coming after the Philippines became the first export customer for the missile, and with countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia also evaluating the system, BrahMos has increasingly become a symbol of India’s growing defence industrial capabilities. The missile’s appeal extends beyond its technical specifications. It reflects a convergence of strategic requirements in Southeast Asia, India’s push to become a major defence exporter, and the changing security architecture of the Indo-Pacific. Some other countries interested in the weapon system are South Korea, Algeria, Greece, Egypt, Venezuela, UAE, and Chile. Jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, BrahMos is among the world’s fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles. Travelling at nearly Mach 2.8 throughout its flight, it combines speed, precision and survivability in a manner that relatively few operational systems currently offer. Unlike subsonic cruise missiles, BrahMos significantly compresses an adversary’s reaction time. Its supersonic speed, low-altitude terminal flight profile and high kinetic energy make interception considerably more difficult. The missile follows a fire-and-forget principle, navigates through pre-programmed waypoints and can be launched from land-based mobile launchers, warships, submarines and combat aircraft.
For countries seeking credible maritime deterrence without investing in significantly larger naval fleets, these characteristics make BrahMos an attractive option. A network of mobile coastal missile batteries can substantially complicate the operational planning of an adversary’s naval forces while remaining comparatively economical. Another factor contributing to international interest has been the missile’s reported operational employment during Operation Sindoor. Defence analysts argue that successful performance during an actual military operation carries considerably greater weight than repeated developmental trials, particularly for prospective buyers evaluating long-term acquisitions. Combat validation often strengthens confidence in a weapon system’s reliability, maintenance ecosystem and operational effectiveness. Why are Southeast Asian countries interested? The growing interest from Southeast Asian countries is closely linked to evolving maritime security concerns in the Indo-Pacific. Several countries in the region continue to face competing territorial claims and increasing military activity in the South China Sea. While most have avoided entering formal military blocs, many have sought to strengthen deterrence by acquiring anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities that raise the cost of potential coercive action. For middle powers with extensive coastlines but relatively modest naval resources, long-range anti-ship cruise missiles provide an efficient means of strengthening maritime defence. Rather than attempting to match larger navies platform-for-platform, these countries can deploy land-based missile batteries capable of threatening hostile surface combatants operating hundreds of kilometres from the coastline.
The BriefWire