Jakarta: India and Indonesia have finalised a landmark defence agreement under which New Delhi will supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles to Indonesia, marking a significant boost to bilateral strategic ties and India’s growing defence export ambitions. The agreement was announced as Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Jakarta for high-level discussions with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
According to Indian government officials, the missile package is valued at approximately $630 million, making it one of India’s largest defence export deals with a Southeast Asian nation. Indonesia will become the third country to sign an agreement to procure the BrahMos missile system after the Philippines and Vietnam, reflecting the increasing international demand for India’s indigenous defence technology.
The BrahMos missile, jointly developed by India and Russia through BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, is regarded as one of the world’s fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles. Designed for deployment from land, sea and air platforms, the missile has gained considerable global attention for its speed, precision and versatility. The Astra missile, an indigenous beyond-visual-range air-to-air weapon, is expected to be integrated with the Indonesian Air Force’s Russian-made Sukhoi fighter aircraft, significantly enhancing the country’s aerial combat capabilities.
The agreement comes against the backdrop of growing geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific region, where India and Indonesia have increasingly aligned their strategic interests. During their discussions, Prime Minister Modi and President Subianto are expected to deliberate on maritime security, defence industrial cooperation, regional connectivity and broader strategic coordination aimed at maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Officials indicated that the BrahMos acquisition is likely to follow a phased implementation model, enabling Indonesia to gradually expand its missile capabilities. The proposed package includes not only missile systems but also supporting infrastructure, operator training, maintenance services and long-term technical assistance to ensure effective deployment and operational readiness.
Indonesia had earlier announced in March that it had reached an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system, with the Indonesian Defence Ministry stating at the time that negotiations were in an advanced stage. Initial estimates had valued the deal between $200 million and $350 million, but the final package is considerably larger and includes additional defence equipment.
International interest in the BrahMos missile has grown significantly following India’s use of the weapon system during its four-day conflict with Pakistan last year. The successful operational deployment highlighted the missile’s capabilities and strengthened India’s position as an emerging exporter of advanced defence systems. Besides Indonesia, India has received procurement interest from several other countries, including the United Arab Emirates.
Beyond defence cooperation, India and Indonesia continue to deepen their economic partnership. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $28.15 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, making Indonesia India’s second-largest trading partner within the ASEAN.
Ahead of his multi-nation tour covering Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, Prime Minister Modi said the visits would reinforce India’s “Act East” policy and its vision for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).
