Months after the Philippines received the first batch of India-made BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles in April, Indonesia is soon set to sign a USD 450-million deal to acquire the medium-range missiles. The deal with Indonesia would be India’s biggest defence export agreement, and comes amid a surge in interest in the BrahMos. Other southeast Asian nations like Vietnam and Malaysia have also shown interest in the BrahMos, and the demand might have a China link.
The spike in demand for the versatile BrahMos, a missile co-produced by an India-Russia joint venture, comes as these nations choose to arm their defence forces amid China’s expanding influence and assertive military posturing in the South China Sea and the western Pacific Ocean. China’s expansionist behaviour is what could be driving the demand for the India-made BrahMos.
China’s increasing aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea based on its maritime Nine-Dash line, its militarisation of artificial islands, and its increasing naval presence and random attacks have created a sense of unease among the neighbouring states. Because of this, the BrahMos missile is a highly-sought-after asset for military forces of the littoral states of the South China Sea, and is emerging as the cornerstone of India’s defence exports.
And by building up the muscles of these countries, India is, in a way, building its own muscles in the region, experts believe.
With its ability to be launched from land, sea, and air platforms, the BrahMos boasts a range of approximately 290 kilometres and a speed of Mach 2.8, making it a missile of choice for defence forces. Add to that India’s growing naval power and its stand for peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region and its extended neighbourhood.
For countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, which have had historical disputes with China over maritime territories, the BrahMos missile offers a credible deterrent. The missile’s precision and speed make it an effective tool for defending against Chinese naval and land-based threats.
BRAHMOS IS HELPING PHILIPPINES DEAL WITH CHINA THREAT
The Philippines, which bought the coastal battery variants of the BrahMos, now “keeps the Chinese threat at least 300 km away” from its coastline, according to Captain DK Sharma (retired), a former spokesperson of the Indian Navy.
China’s assertive behaviour on the high-seas is much like China’s territorial claims on parts of Indian territories in Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. It has also claimed parts of Nepal and Bhutan. China’s Nine-Dash line, an imaginary maritime line in the South China Sea, forms the basis of such claims. Through this, China claims multiple islands that are in contention with the territorial interests of these countries.
Between February 2023 and July 2024, the Philippines reported at least 12 instances of unsafe unprovoked military behaviour by China, often within the waters of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to a 2024 report by think-tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
The Philippines, which has already received a consignment of BrahMos, is strengthening its military in the face of Chinese encroachment. The country’s experience with Chinese aggression in the Scarborough Shoal and other disputed territories has shown the need for advanced weaponry to protect its sovereignty.
INDONESIA BOLSTERING ARESNAL WITH BRAHMOS
Countries with BrahMos missiles would end up creating a security arc against China.
“Look at the terrain. The extent of the sea in which the BrahMos missiles exported by India would be deployed is vast. There’s the Philippines in the centre. You have got Indonesia below, and above on the arc, you have got Vietnam,” Captain DK Sharma (retired), former spokesperson of the Indian Navy told India Today TV.
Indonesia, in particular, has also been bolstering its military arsenal in response to China’s growing presence in the South China Sea under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, who is likely to be India’s chief guest for the Republic Day ceremony. It may be during this visit that both nations ink the deal. The potential deal for BrahMos missiles is seen as a strategic move to enhance Indonesia’s defence capabilities, especially in light of the country’s geographic vulnerability with its extensive archipelago.
“Under President Prabowo Subianto, there is perhaps an attempt to pick up the pace. Indonesia needs to have a very powerful maritime capability to assert itself as a powerful maritime nation,” Commodore (retired) Anil Jai Singh told India Today TV.
“From Indonesia’s perspective, as a strategically located nation, it provides a gateway between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. All three chokepoints, Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok, are in Indonesian waters. China, in an attempt to push its footprint westwards, has been troubling Indonesia by encroaching on its special economic zone. As an archipelagic state, Indonesia has a huge SEZ, and it is very difficult for it to patrol its region the entire time,” added Commodore Anil Jai Singh (retired).
IN BRAHMOS DEALS, INDIA HAS STRATEGIC INTEREST IN MIND
India’s success in exporting the BrahMos missile is not only a testament to the technological and commercial prowess of its defence industry, but also reflects the country’s growing role as a reliable partner in regional security. India sees the Indian Ocean region as its strategic backyard, and peace and stability in the extended region is its priority, under its SAGAR doctrine.
So, for India, BrahMos missile deals are much more than defence exports.
“By building up Indonesia’s muscle, India is, in a way of speaking, also building up its own muscle in the region,” senior fellow at think tank ORF Sushant Sareen told India Today TV. “India is now looking to play the game as it needs to be played,” he added.
The surge in demand for the BrahMos coincides with India’s defence exports reaching an all-time high. From exporting defence equipment worth Rs 686 crore in FY 2013-14, India has made significant strides, achieving exports worth Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, according to Ministry of Defence data.
“India’s ‘Look East’ policy evolved into ‘Act East’, and assertiveness is at play in this approach,” said Commodore Anil Jai Singh (retired).
As India continues to expand its defence exports, including the sale of the BrahMos to friendly neighbours, it is likely to attract more countries seeking to counterbalance the influence of an assertive China. And in doing so, China and its posture is contributing to driving demand for the BrahMos.
