Vietnam BrahMos deal already signed, Indonesia pact in final stages: Defense Minister RK Singh
Defense Minister Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Saturday (May 30, 2026) that the BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam has already been signed, while a similar pact involving Indonesia is in the final stages.
Mr Singh is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue and his comments were in response to a question about potential buyers of the missile system.
India and Indonesia Expand Defense Ties; New Delhi to supply BrahMos missiles
“My understanding is that with both Indonesia and Vietnam, the agreement is in the final stages, that in fact, as far as Vietnam is concerned, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced, but it has already been signed,” Singh said.
The first foreign buyer of the BrahMos missile system from India was the Philippines, which signed a contract worth nearly $375 million in 2022.
In March, Indonesia said it had struck a deal with India to acquire the BrahMos missile system.
And earlier this month there were reports suggesting Vietnam was close to signing a BrahMos missile deal with India. But Mr Singh’s comments on Saturday (May 30, 2026) were the first official word on the matter in the public domain.
However, the trade values in Vietnam and Indonesia have not yet been officially released.
Referring to the broader issue of sharing advanced defense technology, Mr Singh said countries generally sell sophisticated weapons systems and platforms to countries they consider to be friendly partners. “Obviously, you’re sharing technology with people you trust,” he said.
He further said that India has a strong commitment to ASEAN countries, “and we treat all of you as ‘friendly foreign countries’ with whom we can share advanced defense technology”.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) consists of 11 member states — Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam.
Several ASEAN member states, including the Philippines and Vietnam, have overlapping maritime claims with China in the South China Sea – one of the world’s busiest trade routes. India’s export of BrahMos to countries in the region has drawn attention as New Delhi expands defense ties with Southeast Asian nations.
Mr Singh told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue that India is ready to work with partners across the region and beyond to build resilient supply chains, credible defense partnerships, secure maritime assets and innovative collaboration. “Today, resilience has become one of the defining strategic imperatives of our time.”
Highlighting geopolitical uncertainty, conflicts in Europe and West Asia, disruption of maritime trade routes, supply chain vulnerabilities, technological disruption and growing strategic competition, Mr Singh said these factors are reshaping the global security environment.
“The lessons of recent years are clear. Defense readiness cannot depend on fragile or overly concentrated supply chains. Nations today require resilient, trusted, diversified and technologically adaptive defense industrial ecosystems,” he said at a session on Building Defense Industrial Resilience.
For India, resilience is not only about self-reliance but also about building trusted partnerships, diversified production networks, innovation ecosystems and secure supply chains that contribute to regional and global stability, he said.
The defense minister also said that India has made major reforms in defense manufacturing, innovation and exports over the past decade. The country has opened up the sector to greater private sector participation, encouraged startups and small industries, strengthened domestic design and manufacturing, and expanded cooperation with global partners, he said.
India was not only modernizing its armed forces but also emerging as a reliable defense manufacturing and maintenance centre, Mr Singh said.
He said government companies accounted for nearly 72% of India’s defense production, while the private sector contributed the rest. Three Indian government defense firms were among the world’s top 100 arms companies.
India’s defense industry has developed capabilities in areas such as missile systems, fighter aircraft and main battle tanks, while efforts are underway to bridge propulsion technology gaps in land, air and maritime domains, he said. “Our goal is not to create exclusive blocs, but inclusive and reliable partnerships that will strengthen collective security and reduce strategic vulnerabilities.”
Published – 30 May 2026 19:20 IST