India will supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra air-to-air missiles to Indonesia, an Indian government official said yesterday, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started a two-day visit to Jakarta.
Indian sources earlier told Reuters that the deal, worth around $630 million, would likely be signed during Modi’s visit.
Indonesia would be the third country to sign an agreement to buy the missiles, which are manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.
The deal would mark a major expansion of India’s defence exports and deepen strategic ties with Southeast Asia’s largest economy at a time of growing competition with China for influence in the Indo-Pacific.
BrahMos missiles, jointly developed by India and Russia, are among the world’s fastest cruise missiles and can be launched from land, sea and air platforms.
The Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles can be integrated on Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets in the Indonesian Air Force.
The Indian government did not respond to earlier emails seeking a comment. The Indonesian embassy in New Delhi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In March, Indonesia said it had entered an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system, which is co-owned by the Indian and Russian governments.
At the time the Indonesian Defence Ministry told Reuters the deal was in advanced stages and could be worth $200m to $350m.
Interest in the BrahMos missile has grown since India’s four-day conflict with Pakistan last year, when New Delhi used the system in combat for the first time. India has signed pacts to sell BrahMos missiles to Vietnam and the Philippines.
&uuid=(email))