Global demand for BrahMos soars after Operation Sindoor: From Philippines to Brazil, who’s interested?

Brahmos missile system in India's Republic day parade (Image: AFP)

The BrahMos cruise missile played a crucial role in Operation Sindoor, highlighting its strategic importance and sending a strong message to Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

The missile was reportedly used with great effect during the strikes against Pakistan; while India has not officially confirmed its combat use, Pakistan acknowledged it.

International interest from nearly 14-15 countries express desire to procure the missile as it played  a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor said Defence Minister Rajnath during an event in Lucknow on July 13.

“Just a few days ago, I inaugurated a Brahmos airspace integration and testing facility in Lucknow" he said.

• Philippines -India signed its first major defence export deal for BrahMos cruise missiles with the Philippines in January 2022, valued at approximately $375 million.

Under this agreement, India committed to providing three coastal defence batteries. The first battery was delivered in April 2024, followed by the second in April 2025.

According to a defence source quoted by The New Indian Express, “The second battery of the missile has been sent in a ship this time. The first battery was sent in April 2024 in an IAF aircraft, with support coming from civil aircraft agencies. The long-haul flight carrying the heavy load was a non-stop six-hour journey before the equipment reached the western parts of the Philippines.”

• Indonesia - Indonesia is currently in talks to secure an advanced variant of the BrahMos cruise missile, with the deal valued between $200 million and $350 million, according to the News18 reports.

While earlier this year, the Economic Times reported that India was pursuing the sale of the BrahMos missile to Indonesia. Negotiations for this agreement, estimated at approximately $450 million, have been ongoing for the past ten years.

• Malaysia and Vietnam: Indonesia is exploring the acquisition of BrahMos missiles for its Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets and Kedah-class warships. Meanwhile, Vietnam is preparing a $700 million deal to procure missiles for both its Army and Navy.

South-East Asian countries like Thailand, Singapore, Brunei have shown interest and are in various stages of negotiations.

While Latin American countries like Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela are eyeing naval and coastal defence variants of the missile.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman these Middle East countries have also expressed interest, with talks in advanced stages with some of them.

About Brahmos Missile 

The BrahMos missile system is India’s fastest cruise missile, first tested on June 12, 2001, and has since undergone multiple upgrades. This unmanned supersonic missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 3 and has a standard range of 290 km, extendable to 500 km or 800 km in advanced variants.

It carries a warhead weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms and can fly at altitudes up to 15 km, striking targets as low as 10 meters above ground for precise attacks.

Manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, and land platforms. About 83% of its components are now sourced indigenously in India.

Operating on a “fire and forget” principle, the BrahMos features stealth technology and an advanced guidance system, maintaining supersonic speed throughout its flight to minimize interception risks. It boasts high accuracy with a circular error probability of under one meter.

According to NDTV, the next-generation BrahMos weighs 1,290 kilos - significantly lighter than the previous 2,900 kilos - allowing fighter jets like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI to carry three missiles instead of just one. Times Now reports this version will have an extended range of around 400 km.

On Sunday, Rajnath Singh inaugurated a new BrahMos facility in Lucknow, praising the Indian armed forces for their response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people. “Through Operation Sindoor, India gave a clear message to the entire country of its willingness to respond to terrorist attacks,” Singh said.

(With agency inputs)