New Delhi/Hanoi: India is on the verge of finalizing a landmark defense agreement with Vietnam for the sale of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, a move set to reinforce Hanoi’s maritime security posture in the contested South China Sea. This development comes just months after New Delhi successfully delivered the same system to the Philippines.
Sources indicate that the negotiations are in their final phase, and the deal—estimated to be worth approximately $700 million—is expected to be concluded in the coming months. Vietnam is reportedly set to procure the coastal battery variant of the missile, mirroring the configuration acquired by the Philippines.
Designed for precision strikes, the BrahMos missile has a range of 290 kilometers, empowering Vietnam to effectively monitor and defend its maritime borders. Its deployment would also enable the Vietnamese military to deter potential threats from Chinese naval assets operating within the region.
“BrahMos will give Vietnam an ability to keep its maritime boundaries safe as it can target any Chinese warship in the South China Sea within a radius of 300 kilometres.”
With this acquisition, Vietnam would become the second foreign nation to induct the BrahMos missile system into its armed forces, following the Philippines, which signed a $375 million agreement with India in 2022. That deal marked the first-ever export of the BrahMos missile, co-developed by India and Russia.
The growing demand for BrahMos across the Indo-Pacific, particularly among countries involved in maritime disputes with China, highlights its strategic relevance. The missile’s entry into the Vietnamese arsenal is expected to draw further attention from other nations in the region, especially those navigating territorial frictions with Beijing.
In parallel, India is reportedly engaged in early-stage discussions with Indonesia for a potential BrahMos deal. The expansion of interest in the missile extends beyond Southeast Asia, with nations in Central Asia, South America, and the Middle East also expressing intent to acquire the system.
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India’s 2016 entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) was a pivotal step, allowing it to pursue extended-range versions of BrahMos. Initially limited to a range of 290 kilometers due to international export restrictions, the missile’s enhanced variants are now in active development.
Russian collaboration continues to support India’s missile advancements. Indian scientists are currently working to upgrade BrahMos’ range to between 400 and 600 kilometers.
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Recently, the Indian Air Force successfully test-fired an extended-range BrahMos missile from a Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet, achieving a strike distance beyond 400 kilometers. This test marked a significant milestone in India’s efforts to modernize and globalize its defense technology.
China has taken note of the growing interest in BrahMos, particularly among nations asserting sovereignty in the South China Sea. The missile’s proliferation comes as Beijing maintains aggressive territorial claims under its “nine-dash line” map, a position that has strained relations with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
