BrahMos Demand Surges Globally After Operation Sindoor, Many Nations in Line

Islamabad: Operation Sindoor has brought the Brahmos missile system into the limelight. The Indian Army made great use of this cruise missile during its attacks on Pakistan. This is the first time this missile has been used in war. Although India has not officially confirmed its use, Pakistan has done so. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also said so while attending the inauguration of a new Brahmos missile facility in Lucknow with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday. In such a situation, know which countries are standing in line to buy Brahmos missile.

Philippines

India had earlier signed a deal with the Philippines for BrahMos cruise missiles. It was a landmark deal, which was considered India's first major defence export. India and the Philippines had signed this deal worth an estimated $375 million in January 2022. Under the deal, India was to send three coastal defence batteries to the Philippines. The first battery was delivered in April 2024, while the second is expected to be delivered in April 2025.

India had sent a second battery of BrahMos cruise missiles to the Philippines in April 2025. "This time the second battery of the missile has been sent on a ship," The New Indian Express reported. The report quoted sources as saying, "The first battery was sent in April 2024 on an Indian Air Force aircraft, with assistance from civilian aviation agencies. The long-haul flight carrying the heavy load was a non-stop journey of six hours before the equipment reached the western parts of the Philippines."

Indonesia

According to an Economic Times report, India is also considering selling the BrahMos missile to Indonesia early this year. The deal, worth around $450 million, has been in talks for the past decade. People close to the matter told the paper that the country is working on financing for the missile. According to News18, Indonesia wants an advanced version of the cruise missile.

Vietnam, Malaysia and others

Vietnam wants BrahMos missiles for its army and navy. The deal with India will be worth $700 million. Malaysia is eyeing BrahMos missiles for its Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets and Kedah class warships. Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman have also expressed varying levels of interest in the BrahMos missile.

About BrahMos missile

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is the cornerstone of India's missile arsenal. The BrahMos missile is manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia. It can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft and land. The BrahMos missile has a range of about 300 kilometres. It can carry a warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg. It flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach - which is about three times the speed of sound. About 83 per cent of the missile's components are now indigenous - sourced from India. It works on the "fire and forget" principle.