Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: India and Indonesia have signed an agreement for the potential supply of BrahMos missiles to the Indonesian military, marking a significant step in expanding defence cooperation between the two countries.
The pact was among three key agreements finalised during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Indonesia, which also included frameworks on maritime safety and security cooperation, and collaboration on critical minerals and technologies for the steel supply chain.
PM Modi is in Indonesia from July 6 to 8 at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto, marking the first bilateral visit since the two countries elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018.
The two leaders signed around eight agreements covering key areas such as healthcare, education, technology and defence.
The talks drew particular attention after India and Indonesia finalised a long-discussed agreement on BrahMos missiles, adding another layer to New Delhi’s expanding network of coastal missile deployments across Southeast Asia. Under the new defence cooperation framework, India will also supply ASTRA systems to Indonesia.
The Astra is an indigenous Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) family developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for use by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
According to sources, Indonesia has also decided to expand its inventory of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, and India is expected to provide additional missile batteries as part of the proposed cooperation.
The BrahMos is regarded as the world’s fastest operational supersonic cruise missile. It can travel at speeds of up to Mach 2.8, carry a heavy warhead and strike targets at ranges exceeding 290 kilometres.
Operating on the “fire and forget” principle, the missile can be launched from multiple platforms, including warships, submarines, aircraft such as the Su-30MKI and land-based mobile launchers.
