India is set to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles to Indonesia under a defense agreement expected to be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Jakarta, according to an Indian government official, marking one of New Delhi’s largest defense export deals in Southeast Asia.
The agreement, valued at approximately $630 million according to Indian sources familiar with the negotiations, would make Indonesia the third country to purchase the BrahMos missile system and underscore India’s ambitions to become a major global defense exporter while deepening strategic ties with Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
The deal comes as New Delhi seeks to strengthen security partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, where regional powers are expanding military cooperation amid intensifying strategic competition with China.
Indian officials said the agreement is expected to be finalized during talks between Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, whose discussions will also cover maritime security, defense industrial cooperation, regional connectivity and broader strategic coordination throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Neither the Indian government nor the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi immediately commented publicly on the negotiations. Both governments had previously acknowledged that discussions over the BrahMos system were at an advanced stage.
Indonesia first announced in March that it had reached an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system, which is jointly developed and produced by India and Russia through BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.
At the time, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense said the agreement could be worth between $200 million and $350 million. The latest estimate provided by Indian sources suggests the package has expanded considerably, reflecting the inclusion of additional missile systems and long-term support services.
Beyond the BrahMos missiles, the package is expected to include Astra air-to-air missiles developed by India for modern fighter aircraft.
The Astra missile can be integrated with the Indonesian Air Force’s Russian-built Sukhoi fighter jets, potentially enhancing Indonesia’s air combat capabilities without requiring major modifications to its existing fleet.
According to a third Indian source familiar with the negotiations, both sides are discussing a phased acquisition model that would allow Indonesia to gradually expand its missile inventory over time rather than receive the full package in a single delivery.
The proposed agreement extends beyond the transfer of weapons alone.
Officials said the package under consideration includes missile launch systems, supporting infrastructure, operator training, maintenance services and broader technical assistance intended to ensure the long-term operation and sustainment of the systems.
Such comprehensive defense packages have increasingly become a feature of India’s military exports as New Delhi seeks to compete with established global arms suppliers by offering long-term industrial partnerships alongside advanced weapons.
The BrahMos missile has become one of India’s flagship defense products and is regarded as one of the world’s fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles.
Jointly developed by India and Russia, the missile can be launched from land-based platforms, naval vessels, submarines and combat aircraft, giving military planners flexibility across multiple operational environments.
International interest in the weapon has grown significantly since India’s four-day conflict with Pakistan last year, during which the Indian military reportedly employed the BrahMos system in combat for the first time.
The missile’s operational performance during that conflict attracted renewed attention from potential foreign buyers seeking advanced precision-strike capabilities.
India has already secured export agreements with the Philippines and Vietnam for the BrahMos system and has received expressions of interest from more than half a dozen additional countries, including the United Arab Emirates.
A successful agreement with Indonesia would further strengthen India’s position as an emerging supplier of sophisticated missile technology in the Indo-Pacific while reinforcing defense ties with one of the region’s most influential nations.
The defense relationship also complements rapidly expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
Bilateral trade reached $28.15 billion during the 2024-25 financial year, making Indonesia India’s second-largest trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The growing commercial relationship has increasingly been matched by closer political and security engagement as both governments emphasize freedom of navigation, maritime security and regional stability.
Ahead of his regional tour, Modi said visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand would reinforce India’s “Act East” policy, advance its Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across Regions, or MAHASAGAR, vision and demonstrate New Delhi’s commitment to maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
For Indonesia, the acquisition would represent another step in its broader military modernization program as Jakarta seeks to strengthen deterrence capabilities while maintaining its long-standing policy of strategic autonomy and balanced relations with competing major powers.
The agreement also reflects India’s broader effort to translate its expanding domestic defense industry into sustained export growth. In recent years, New Delhi has invested heavily in indigenous weapons development while encouraging overseas sales to reduce dependence on imports and increase its influence as a regional security partner.
If signed during Modi’s visit, the BrahMos and Astra agreement would rank among the most significant defense cooperation initiatives ever concluded between India and Indonesia, reinforcing a strategic partnership that extends beyond trade into maritime security, defense technology and long-term military collaboration across the Indo-Pacific.
