In a way, India has moved into uncharted territory in Southeast Asia’s defence scene. Rajesh Kumar Singh, the Defence Secretary, made it clear: Vietnam has put its name to the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, and Indonesia is right on its heels. It is an export push that is raising the temperature in a part of the world defined by hard-edged competition on the seas.
You could call it the programme’s second big success in the ASEAN fold, following on from the Philippines’ 2022 order for some USD 375 million. Should the Indonesians come on board, you will have a string of BrahMos systems along vital waterways, which only puts a finer point on deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Official confirmation and regional stakes
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Singh was matter-of-fact about the Vietnam side of things. ‘With Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced. But it’s already been signed,’ he put it.
As for Indonesia, the talks are in their last lap. Jakarta let it be known in March they were in an agreement with us to get the system, and what Singh said makes it seem like we’re very close to a done deal. He was also at pains to make his point about standing by our ASEAN friends.
What the BrahMos sale includes
We don’t have the hard numbers out there yet. But if you go by what was said at the event, a Vietnamese contract might run to around Rs 60 billion (USD 629 million) once you factor in the training and the kind of support that goes with it.
The BrahMos is no ordinary piece of kit. Co-developed with Russia, it is one of the fastest you’ll find in service. You can put it on land, sea or in the air, and with a 380-kilometre plus range, it gives you a high-precision, fast-moving option for coastal and maritime work.
India’s export play and technology posture
Singh put these deals in the context of New Delhi’s plan to put more of its defences on the global stage while building up at home. Over the last ten years, he said, we have reformed and opened the door to private enterprise and new startups to back up what we sell here and abroad.
When it comes to passing on technology, the Defence Secretary doesn’t mince words. ‘Obviously you share technology with people you trust,’ he said. We see our ASEAN neighbours as such. We are for open, steady partnerships, not walled-off blocs.
Supply chain resilience message
In a talk on ‘Building Defence Industrial Resilience’, Singh pointed to the troubles in Europe and West Asia, the hiccups in shipping lanes and the tech race as reasons to build a tougher defence setup. ‘Today, resilience has become one of the defining strategic requirements of our time,’ he observed.
He is looking for supply chains that are well-vetted and can adapt. India is up for working with the region to put in place production that can hold up, to keep the commons safe and to foster some innovation. For what it’s worth, three of our state-run firms are in the top 100 arms makers in the world, he added.
Why this matters now
There is an eye on India’s BrahMos as countries in the area want to make sure they are in a position to deter. The South China Sea is one of the most heavily used trade arteries on the planet, and members like the Philippines and Vietnam have their differences with China over claims there.
So, what does Singh’s word tell us about the mood in the region?
– A deal with Vietnam is in the bag, we just haven’t made it official
– With Indonesia, we are in the home stretch
– Put a value of some Rs 60 billion (USD 629 million) on the Vietnam order
– The 2022 Philippines purchase was in the neighbourhood of USD 375 million
What to watch next
Look for the Vietnam contract to be made public and for the Indonesian side to be finalised. Then comes the nitty-gritty of rolling it out – the training and logistics we’ve alluded to – and in the process, India cements itself as a supplier you can count on in the region.
