India, Indonesia inch closer to finalising $450 mn BrahMos deal

Making a forward movement on the sale of the BrahMos missiles, a high-level defence delegation from Indonesia is scheduled to visit India in the next few weeks for finalising details of the $450 million deal. The delegation from Jakarta will also discuss the making of warships by Indian Shipyards for the Indonesian Navy and the Coast Guard.

Sources said the sale of BrahMos was discussed when Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto today in New Delhi. Subianto, who will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade on tomorrow, is former Defence Minister of his country.

Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary East, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while answering media-questions on the BrahMos deal refused to be drawn into specifics of the defence-related discussions Modi and Subianto have had, but added that both sides see a tremendous potential for future development of defence ties. The President (Subianto) said he would be sending a high-powered delegation from his country in the next few weeks.

The team that would come is also for mapping out the needs of the Indonesian Navy in sourcing warships from Indian shipyards, Mazumdar said adding “Defence industrial cooperation is an important area. The discussions included everything from joint exercises, collaboration, training exchanges and also repairs and maintenance of common military platforms” .

Sources said for the BrahMos, India could even offer a loan to Indonesia for the $450 million deal.

Indonesia sits across some of the most important shipping routes, including the vital straits of Malaca, in South East Asia. Jakarta plays a crucial role in the security of the Malacca and conducts a trilateral coordinated patrol with Malaysia and Singapore.

Two weeks ago Indonesia officially conveyed its desire to get the Brahmos missile.

India offers two variants of the missile– one is the shore based to target ships at sea and also on land. the other variant is launched from a ship that can hit targets on land and at sea. Indian Navy uses these both variants.

The Brahmos missile can hit distances at 300 kms has already been exported to the Philippines – the country has a version that is land-based and can target ships at a sea. The Philippines is in dispute with China over maritime claims in the hydro-carbon rich South China sea.

Indonesia – is not a direct claimant in the South China Sea dispute but has rejected Beijing’s unilateral nine-dash line making claims on South China Sea.

Indonesia had joined BRICS, in January last year paving the way for a possible Indian Rupee-Indonesian Rupiah transaction. The BRICS was originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. The other Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates have joined later.

The BrahMos missile system has been jointly developed by India and Russia. The missile can travel at thrice the speed of sound making it difficult to detect and counter.