According to people with knowledge of the negotiations, India is considering selling Vietnam the BrahMos missile. This missile is very fast and was developed together by India and Russia. One of those people said that a deal could be worth around 60 billion rupees (about $629 million) and would include training and ongoing support.
What is on the table
Hanoi is thinking of buying the BrahMos, and a defence official said there will probably be announcements about defence cooperation during President Lam’s visit from May 5th to 7th. However, a weapons contract won’t be signed. President Lam arrived in Bodh Gaya on Tuesday, and then went to New Delhi for official meetings.
Those people who gave information about the talks asked not to be named, because they aren’t allowed to publicly discuss what the government is negotiating. India and Vietnam’s foreign ministries, and BrahMos Aerospace, haven’t yet responded to requests for a statement.
New Delhi believes Vietnam is extremely important to keeping the Indo-Pacific region stable as China’s power grows. The fact that they are discussing BrahMos shows India wants to strengthen its important partnerships and also become a major seller of weapons.
Why it matters for the Indo-Pacific
India has already given training to people in the Vietnamese military and, in 2023, gave Hanoi the INS Kirpan, a missile corvette that India built itself. The relationship between the two countries isn’t just about defence, it’s also growing in terms of the economy, with trade between them being over $16 billion in the last year.
India has been putting money into increasing how much it manufactures at home, for both its own military and for selling to other countries. The Defence Research and Development Organisation said in a post on social media that BrahMos Aerospace made over 5,200 crore rupees in 2025-26, which shows increased demand and quicker production.
Here are the key developments shaping the stakes this week:
– Possible BrahMos sale discussions during the visit
– Announcements likely, but no contract signing expected
– Vietnam viewed as a pivotal regional partner
Signals from India’s defence industry
They also said their new factory in Lucknow has begun making its first missiles within a year of starting work. The Organisation also mentioned that they received export orders for 4,000 crore rupees in 2025-26 and that they are meeting Prime Minister Modi’s goals as well as the needs of the Indian armed forces.
India has already sold the BrahMos system to the Philippines and in March signed a deal with Indonesia, showing the BrahMos missile program is becoming more widespread in Southeast Asia.
Sales footprint so far
This history is important for understanding the current talks with Vietnam. It shows New Delhi as a dependable supplier in the area and improving the ability of important allies to work together.
For now, the main goal is to issue joint statements and create plans for working together that could make a future deal possible. People familiar with the situation say that defence cooperation can move forward during the visit, even without a signed agreement.
What to watch next
People will also pay attention to how the plans for training, logistical support, and manufacturing cooperation are described, considering what Vietnam needs and the fact that India is increasing its manufacturing capacity.
If Vietnam does go ahead with a BrahMos purchase, the details of the purchase will reflect how much India wants to export its weapons and how Vietnam’s need to have ways of stopping attacks is changing. This visit is the first step, and how things go after the visit will show how committed both countries are.
For readers following the visit, here is what could emerge next:
– New defence cooperation announcements
– Clarity on training and logistics frameworks
– Timelines for future procurement steps
