Singapore, May 30: India’s growing expertise in missile technology has led to a significant development. Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh announced on Saturday that a deal for BrahMos missiles with Vietnam has already been signed. Additionally, a similar agreement with Indonesia is in its final stages.
During a media event at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Singh responded to a question from a Vietnamese delegate, stating, “To my understanding, agreements with both Indonesia and Vietnam are in the final stages. In fact, for Vietnam, I believe the signing has already occurred, though it may not have been publicly announced yet. Clearly, you are among the friendly foreign nations with whom we are pleased to share such advanced technology.”
The Philippines is the first buyer of the supersonic cruise missiles developed jointly by India and Russia. Singh emphasized India’s strong commitment to ASEAN countries, saying, “We consider all of you as friendly nations with whom we can share advanced defense technology.”
The first batch of BrahMos missiles was delivered to the Philippines in 2024, making it India’s inaugural customer, with a second batch scheduled for delivery in April 2025.
Earlier this month, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited Hanoi, where he engaged in detailed discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, on enhancing defense partnerships, maritime security, defense industry collaboration, training, and regional stability.
Singh’s visit marked the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, which was upgraded to an advanced comprehensive strategic partnership during Vietnamese President To Lam’s state visit earlier this month.
During his trip, Singh also met with the Vietnamese President, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening cooperation under the advanced comprehensive strategic partnership.
Following the meeting, Singh posted on the social media platform X, stating, “India and Vietnam share a strong relationship based on mutual trust, shared values, and close cooperation in defense, security, and regional stability.”
The Defense Minister expressed confidence that India’s defense exports will reach ₹50,000 crore by 2030. Experts believe that as the defense market expands, New Delhi aims to enhance its influence in regions aligned with its geopolitical and strategic interests, with the Global South becoming a crucial part of its strategic vision.
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