Brahmos cruise missile deal with Vietnam already signed: Defence Secretary
Singapore, May 30
Highlighting India's expanding expertise in missile manufacturing and increasing outreach, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Saturday announced that a BrahMos missile deal has already been signed with Vietnam with another similar agreement with Indonesia currently in the final stages.
"My understanding is that with both Indonesia and with Vietnam, the deal is in the final stages. In fact, for Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced, but it's already been signed. Obviously, you are in the category of friendly foreign countries with whom we would be happy to share this kind of advanced technology," Singh said while responding to a question from a Vietnamese delegate during a media event held on the sidelines of the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore.
With the Philippines being the first buyer of supersonic cruise missiles jointly produced by India and Russia, Defence Secretary Singh asserted that India has a strong commitment to the ASEAN nations.
"We treat you all as friendly foreign countries with whom we can share advanced defence technology," he told the gathering in Singapore.
The Philippines received the first batch of the BrahMos missiles in 2024, becoming India's first customer of the missile, while India delivered the second batch of the missiles in April 2025.
Earlier this month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh travelled to Hanoi, holding extensive discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, on the expanding defence partnership between both nations and discussing ways to deepen cooperation in maritime security, defence industry, training, and regional stability.
Singh's visit marked 10 years of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations, which was upgraded to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the State visit of Vietnamese President To Lam earlier this month.
During his visit, he also called on the Vietnamese President and reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening cooperation under the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
"India and Vietnam share a strong bond rooted in mutual trust, shared values and close cooperation in defence, security and regional stability," the Defence Minister wrote in a post on X after the meeting.
With Defence Minister Singh voicing confidence that India's defence exports will reach 50,000 crore rupees by 2030, defence experts reckon that, as defence market expands, New Delhi seeks to widen its influence in regions that align with its geopolitical and strategic interests, with the Global South becoming an increasingly important part of its strategic outlook.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see our 'Make in India' defense initiatives bearing fruit! The deal with Vietnam and progress with Indonesia shows our commitment to the ASEAN region. However, I hope we're also investing in R&D for next-gen tech rather than just focusing on exports.
The BrahMos missile is indeed a marvel of Indo-Russian collaboration. With the Philippines already receiving shipments and Vietnam signing the deal, India is clearly becoming a reliable defense partner for Southeast Asia. But I'm curious about the financial terms—are we offering credit lines or pure trade?
It's impressive to see India expanding its defense exports and deepening ties with Vietnam. The Shangri-La Dialogue platform seems to be working well for showcasing our capabilities. Hope these partnerships lead to greater stability in the region.
What a proud moment for Indian defense technology! BrahMos is truly a game-changer, and seeing friendly nations like Vietnam and the Philippines adopt it is fantastic. The ₹50,000 crore export target by 2030 seems ambitious but achievable if we maintain this momentum.
This is a significant move for India's strategic outreach. The BrahMos export to Vietnam signals a robust partnership in the region, counterbalancing Chinese influence in South China Sea. But I wonder if Russia, as a co-developer, is fully comfortable with these sales or if there are any access restrictions.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.