India, Indonesia working on BrahMos deal, maritime ties

India and Indonesia today discussed the sale of BrahMos supersonic missile and separately committed to enhance cooperation in the maritime domain.

Sources said the missile sale was discussed and modalities were being worked out. The issue came up at the Defence Cooperation Dialogue hosted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in New Delhi.

Rajnath Singh also gifted a model of BrahMos missile to Sjamsoeddin and posted a picture on X. The Indonesian delegation was briefed about the missile by officials of the India-Russia joint venture, also named BrahMos.

India has already sold the missile to the Philippines, a country with a coastline along the disputed, hydrocarbon-rich South China Sea. Indonesia also has a coast on the same sea, where China has overlapping maritime claims.

India and Indonesia are working on phased procurement that would include BrahMos missile, which can strike targets up to 300 km away. A Ministry of Defence statement said, “Both countries committed to enhancing practical cooperation in maritime domain awareness, cyber resilience and joint operational readiness.”

New Delhi has proposed a joint defence industry cooperation committee to collaborate in areas such as technology transfer and joint research and development.

Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining a free, open, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, guided by international law and respect for sovereignty. In strategic circles, the phrase is seen as a euphemism for opposing Chinese hegemony and attempts to impede sea and air traffic. China has previously objected to warships operating in the South China Sea.

The two countries also discussed collaboration in defence medicine and pharmaceuticals, including joint research, technology transfer and training programmes to strengthen military health resilience.