India In Talks With Indonesia To Sell BrahMos Missiles A Year After The Philippines Deal, Amidst Centre's Push For Defence Exports

Indonesia is likely to order BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India worth $200 to $350 million, reported Reuters.

The Reuters report reveals that India is in negotiations with Indonesian authorities for the sale of BrahMos cruise missile for quite a while.

Last year, India sealed its first international export deal worth $375 million by supplying BrahMos shore-based anti-ship missiles to the Philippines.

This was part of the Indian government‘s ambitious target of achieving $5 billion in defence equipment exports by 2025.

Indian defence exports have already reached more than Rs 13,399 crore according to the data released by the government in the parliament.

The data shows that the Narendra Modi-led central government's push on Atma-Nirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India has finally begun to show results.

BrahMos is supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. The missile is capable to hit targets at a maximum range of 290 km with a maximum speed of 2.9 Mach.

BrahMos Aerospace, chief executive officer Atul D Rane said that it is in advanced discussions with Jakarta on a deal worth $200 million to $350 million under which it had offered to supply shore-based missiles and a version that can be mounted on warships. 

"I have a team right now in Jakarta and a deal could be in place within the year," Reuters quoted Rane as saying.

Rane also stated that BrahMos intends to secure a $300 million order with the Philippines for missile delivery to the Philippine Marine Corps starting in late 2023.

About the potential for more orders for BrahMos Rane said, "The Philippines themselves have sort of indicated to us that this is just an ice breaker, they are looking at more systems."

“The defence forces of Indonesia are extremely interested," Rane added. 

The report also reveals that the production of BrahMos was not affected by Russia-Ukraine war.

Rane also said although BrahMos missiles rely on Russian parts and raw materials, the local input has increased to over 70 per cent from around 15 per cent at the beginning of the venture.