New Delhi: Indonesia has signed an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system, marking another significant step in India’s growing defence export programme. The deal, estimated to be worth between $200 million and $350 million, is part of Indonesia’s broader effort to strengthen its military capabilities.
Officials in Jakarta said the procurement forms part of the country’s plan to modernise defence equipment, particularly in the maritime sector. The missile system is expected to enhance Indonesia’s ability to safeguard its extensive coastline and strategic sea routes.
The BrahMos missile is widely regarded as one of the most advanced supersonic cruise missiles currently in operation. Developed through a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the programme operates under BrahMos Aerospace. The name combines the rivers Brahmaputra River in India and Moskva River in Russia.
The missile travels at speeds between Mach 2.8 and Mach 3, nearly three times the speed of sound, making it extremely difficult for existing air defence systems to intercept. It can be launched from multiple platforms including land based mobile launchers, naval ships, submarines and aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet. The system follows a “fire and forget” guidance principle and is capable of striking targets with very high accuracy.
Earlier versions of the missile had a range of around 290 kilometres, while extended range variants can strike targets between 450 and 800 kilometres away. The missile can also fly at extremely low altitudes to avoid radar detection or operate at higher altitudes depending on mission requirements.
Future versions are also under development. These include the smaller and lighter BrahMos NG variant designed for deployment on additional aircraft such as the HAL Tejas fighter jet. Another planned version, BrahMos II, aims to achieve hypersonic speeds exceeding Mach 7.
India secured its first overseas BrahMos export deal with the Philippines in 2022. The agreement with Indonesia further reflects India’s transition from being a major importer of defence equipment to an emerging exporter of advanced military technology.
