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India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are holding preliminary discussions on the possible sale of key Indian defence systems, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akashteer air defence command-and-control system, people familiar with the matter said.
“The UAE has shown interest in a number of our weapon systems, including BrahMos and Akashteer. The talks are at an initial stage and are progressing fast,” a source with direct knowledge of the discussions said to Reuters.
The talks come as Abu Dhabi reassesses its defence requirements following heightened regional tensions and missile and drone threats linked to recent conflicts in West Asia. The UAE is also looking to bolster the security of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Akashteer, developed by state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd in partnership with the Indian Army, is an automated air defence network. This system integrates data from multiple sensors and weapon systems to rapidly detect and engage aerial threats. Defence analysts believe it could complement the existing US-origin missile defence architecture in the UAE, which includes THAAD and Patriot systems.
The BrahMos missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is among the world’s fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles and can be launched from land, sea and air platforms. Any export of the missile to the UAE would require Russian approval, though sources indicated this is unlikely to pose a significant obstacle given Moscow’s close ties with Abu Dhabi.
Neither the Indian government nor the UAE authorities have commented publicly on the reported negotiations.
The discussions underscore the growing strategic partnership between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi, which has expanded in recent years to encompass trade, energy, investment and defence cooperation, including joint military manufacturing initiatives.
For India, a potential deal with the UAE would mark another step in its efforts to expand defence exports under the government’s push for indigenous military production. Defence exports crossed $4 billion in the financial year ending March 2026, according to official figures.
International interest in Indian weapon systems has risen steadily in recent years, particularly in the BrahMos missile, which has already been exported to the Philippines. Several other countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia, have been in discussions with India over possible acquisitions.
If concluded, a BrahMos deal with the UAE would represent one of India’s most significant defence exports to the Gulf region and further deepen security ties between the two countries amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in West Asia.
Team BharatShakti
