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India is preparing to use next month’s BRICS Summit in New Delhi to advance its defence-export agenda, with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile emerging as one of the key systems in bilateral discussions.
With the Philippines already a customer and agreements with Vietnam and Indonesia in place, India’s focus is now on a wider group of prospective buyers, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Brazil, South Africa and Thailand.
People familiar with the matter said defence exports are expected to feature in several bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the summit. The meetings could allow New Delhi to review proposals already submitted to partner countries and push negotiations that have been underway for months.
The UAE is among the most closely watched prospects. India has held discussions with Abu Dhabi on a possible BrahMos sale, with the Emirati side examining the missile for long-range precision-strike and maritime-security requirements.
Sources said BrahMos Aerospace has made presentations to the UAE and submitted its proposal, which is under consideration.
A deal would make the UAE the first Gulf country to procure BrahMos. For India, it would also give the missile a foothold in a major defence market and potentially widen defence-industrial cooperation.
Saudi Arabia is another potential market. Riyadh has been diversifying its defence partnerships and procurement sources, while India has sought to expand defence and strategic cooperation with the kingdom.
The Saudi opportunity is not as advanced as the UAE proposal but remains part of India’s effort to position BrahMos among the advanced systems being considered by Gulf countries.
Egypt is further along in terms of engagement. Contrary to reports that BrahMos Aerospace had not formally presented the missile to Cairo, sources said presentations were made during the company’s participation in defence exhibitions in Egypt.
At the Egypt Defence Expo, BrahMos Aerospace showcased land, sea and air-launched variants and held discussions with senior Egyptian defence officials.
Egypt is also assessing potential defence acquisitions and wider defence cooperation with India. The security situation around the Red Sea has added importance to capabilities involving long-range precision, coastal defence and maritime security.
Sources said discussions on potential BrahMos requirements are continuing, although any agreement would depend on Egypt completing its evaluation and internal approval processes.
Brazil has also emerged as a potential customer. Several rounds of discussions have taken place between Indian and Brazilian officials, while Brazilian delegations have visited BrahMos facilities to examine the missile’s operational and industrial capabilities.
For Brazil, the missile’s maritime and coastal-defence applications are of particular interest. Its long coastline and focus on protecting its maritime domain make anti-ship and precision-strike capabilities relevant to its defence planning.
A Brazilian order would also give BrahMos a major reference customer in Latin America, expanding its presence beyond Asia.
South Africa is understood to have shown preliminary or informal interest, although no purchase contract has been concluded. Discussions form part of India’s broader effort to expand defence cooperation with African countries.
Thailand remains another potential market. Bangkok has expressed interest in naval and shore-based versions of BrahMos as it examines options to strengthen maritime and coastal defence.
The missile’s growing export profile follows two recent breakthroughs in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam has signed a BrahMos agreement after years of discussions over the missile’s possible role in its coastal-defence capabilities. Indonesia has also moved ahead with an agreement, giving India another major Southeast Asian customer.
The Philippines was the first export customer. In 2022, Manila signed a contract worth about $375 million for shore-based anti-ship missile batteries.
Jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, BrahMos can travel at nearly three times the speed of sound and can be launched from land, naval and air platforms.
Its speed, precision, low-altitude flight and platform flexibility have made it an attractive option for countries looking to strengthen maritime and coastal defence.
The missile has consequently become the leading platform in India’s effort to expand defence exports.
The timing of the BRICS Summit could help that effort. The grouping now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Indonesia. Its partner countries include Thailand and Vietnam, among others.
That puts several countries already within the expanded BRICS framework directly alongside India’s BrahMos export pipeline.
For New Delhi, the summit therefore offers a concentrated opportunity to take stock of multiple conversations already in progress, even as the final decisions remain with individual buyers.
Huma Siddiqui
