New Delhi is also in talks with Vietnam, Malaysia, and other nations for potential sales of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin is scheduled to visit India in the last week of November for a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.
The meeting is being viewed as a significant follow-up to the major defence agreement involving the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, marking an important step forward in India’s expanding defence export programme.
A senior defence official confirmed that the upcoming talks hold considerable importance, coming after a series of meetings and reciprocal visits by senior military officials from both nations. Indonesia has shown strong interest in procuring the BrahMos missile system, which has prompted intensified diplomatic and defence engagements in recent months.
The development came to light after Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently revealed in Lucknow that Indonesia had formally placed a request for the purchase of the BrahMos system being manufactured at the new BrahMos Aerospace facility in the city.
On October 18, Mr. Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles produced at the Lucknow unit. Officials noted that the Indonesia deal would be a major milestone for India’s defence exports, showcasing the country’s capability to supply advanced, combat-proven indigenous weapons. They also indicated that India was offering additional home-grown systems demonstrated during Operation Sindoor.
Earlier, on October 28, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan met Minister Sjamsoeddin in Jakarta to discuss expanding bilateral defence cooperation.
Defence experts said BrahMos missiles used during Operation Sindoor to strike Pakistani airbases with full accuracy have enhanced global confidence in India’s defence manufacturing.
Indonesia’s interest also follows President Prabowo Subianto’s three-day visit to India in January, during which he was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. His discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi included deeper collaboration in defence production and supply chain partnerships.
Meanwhile, India is preparing to deliver the third and final consignment of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines under a $375 million contract signed in 2022. New Delhi is also in talks with Vietnam, Malaysia, and other nations for potential sales of the missile system.
The BrahMos missile during Operation Sindoor had demonstrated it had moved far beyond a trial and had become “the greatest practical proof of national security”, Mr. Singh had said earlier. Every inch of Pakistan’s territory was now within the reach of BrahMos, he said.
The BrahMos missile has a range of over 290 km with a speed of Mach 2.8. It was jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation, and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia.
Published – November 18, 2025 11:30 pm IST
