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International Relations May 30, 2026 4 min read Daily brief · #1 of 8

Defence Secretary announces BrahMos deal with Vietnam, secretly signed last fiscal

A deal to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam, signed during the last fiscal year (2025-26), was officially confirmed at the Shangri-La Dial...

GS Paper 2 (International Relations India's Neighbourhood) GS Paper 3 (Defence Internal Security)

What Happened

  • A deal to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam, signed during the last fiscal year (2025-26), was officially confirmed at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
  • The Defence Secretary disclosed that an agreement with Indonesia for one battery of BrahMos missiles has also been finalised and is expected to be formally signed shortly.
  • Vietnam becomes the second Asian country — after the Philippines — to acquire the BrahMos system, marking a significant milestone in India's defence export trajectory.
  • The deals come against the backdrop of escalating Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, which has prompted Southeast Asian nations to invest in credible anti-ship and coastal defence capabilities.
  • The exact financial valuations of both agreements remain classified, though independent estimates place the Vietnam deal in the range of $700 million.

Static Topic Bridges

BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM) through BrahMos Aerospace — a 50.5:49.5 joint venture. The missile's name is a portmanteau of the rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia). Based on the Russian P-800 Oniks platform, BrahMos is the world's fastest operational cruise missile in its class.

  • Speed: Mach 2.8–3.0 (approximately three times the speed of sound)
  • Range: Extended to 450 km after India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016; tested up to 800 km in 2023
  • Warhead capacity: 200–300 kg conventional explosive; can be launched from land, sea, submarine, and air platforms
  • The missile was first exported to the Philippines in 2022 (three coastal defence batteries, valued at $375 million), marking India's first major defence export of strategic significance

Connection to this news: Vietnam and Indonesia acquiring BrahMos reinforces India's positioning as a credible defence exporter, particularly within the Indo-Pacific, and signals the maturing of the Make in India defence manufacturing ecosystem.

India's Defence Exports and the Indo-Pacific Strategy

India's defence export ambitions are aligned with its Act East Policy and Quad-era strategic commitments. Selling advanced missile systems to Southeast Asian nations deepens bilateral security ties, generates foreign exchange, and projects India as a reliable alternative to traditional arms suppliers in the region.

  • India's defence exports crossed ₹21,000 crore (~$2.5 billion) in FY24, a tenfold increase from FY17 levels
  • BrahMos exports are handled through Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangements, avoiding third-party commercial intermediaries
  • Southeast Asia is strategically vital as a flashpoint where China's island-building and naval assertiveness have heightened threat perceptions among smaller nations
  • Under MTCR membership, India can now offer BrahMos with extended ranges to partner countries subject to end-use monitoring agreements

Connection to this news: Deals with Vietnam and Indonesia are flagship outcomes of India's defence diplomacy, strengthening the security architecture of ASEAN partners who seek deterrence against China without formal alliance commitments.

Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

The MTCR is a voluntary, informal political arrangement among 35 countries aimed at restricting the proliferation of missiles and unmanned air vehicles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. India joined MTCR in June 2016, which directly enabled the extension of BrahMos's range beyond the original 300 km cap.

  • Established in 1987 by G-7 nations; India's membership admitted in 2016
  • MTCR member states agree to exercise restraint in exporting complete delivery systems capable of carrying a 500 kg payload to a range of 300 km or more
  • India's MTCR membership unlocked export of extended-range BrahMos to allied nations after end-use assurances
  • Other export control regimes India has joined: Wassenaar Arrangement (2017), Australia Group (2018), Nuclear Suppliers Group (pending)

Connection to this news: India's MTCR membership is the legal and diplomatic foundation that made the Vietnam and Indonesia BrahMos deals possible in their current extended-range configuration.

Key Facts & Data

  • BrahMos is operational with the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force; the Air Force version was first test-fired from a Su-30 MKI in 2019
  • The Philippines deal (signed January 2022, delivered 2024) was India's first BrahMos export, valued at $375 million for three coastal defence batteries
  • Vietnam is the second Asian country to acquire BrahMos; Indonesia will be the third upon formal signing
  • The deal with Vietnam was covertly executed during FY 2025-26 and publicly confirmed in May 2026 at the Shangri-La Dialogue
  • BrahMos Aerospace plans to develop BrahMos-II (hypersonic, Mach 8, range up to 1,500 km) in collaboration with Russia using scramjet propulsion
  • India's defence exports target is ₹50,000 crore by 2029 per the Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020
On this page
  1. What Happened
  2. Static Topic Bridges
  3. BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
  4. India's Defence Exports and the Indo-Pacific Strategy
  5. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
  6. Key Facts & Data
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