Jakarta/New Delhi: India and Indonesia have taken another significant step towards strengthening their strategic defence partnership, with India set to supply additional BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems and the indigenously developed Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to the Southeast Asian nation.
The announcement coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to Indonesia from July 6 to 8, during which he held wide-ranging discussions with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta. The leaders reviewed progress under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2018, and explored avenues for deeper cooperation in defence, maritime security, critical minerals, infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
The planned induction of the BrahMos and Astra missile systems is expected to significantly enhance Indonesia’s air and maritime defence capabilities while reinforcing India’s growing role as a supplier of advanced indigenous defence equipment.
Indonesia had earlier agreed to procure the BrahMos missile system as part of its military modernisation programme. The latest agreement expands that cooperation through the supply of additional missile batteries.
Jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya through BrahMos Aerospace, the BrahMos is among the world’s fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles. Capable of striking both land and maritime targets with high precision, the missile travels at nearly three times the speed of sound and is available in land-based, ship-launched, and air-launched configurations. Export versions generally have a range of around 290 kilometres.
India will also supply the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, marking another milestone for the country’s indigenous defence manufacturing programme. Developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Astra is designed for all-weather, day-and-night operations and can engage aerial targets at distances exceeding 100 kilometres. Recent upgraded versions have demonstrated even greater operational range during testing.
The missile is already integrated with several Indian Air Force platforms, including the Su-30MKI and LCA Tejas. Its compatibility with the Sukhoi Su-30 fighters operated by the Indonesian Air Force is expected to simplify its induction into service.
Defence experts believe the acquisition will strengthen Indonesia’s ability to safeguard its vast maritime domain, including vital sea lanes around the strategically important Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
For India, the agreement represents another milestone in its expanding defence export programme under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Following earlier BrahMos export agreements with the Philippines and subsequent defence cooperation with other Southeast Asian partners, the latest development further establishes India as an emerging supplier of sophisticated and combat-tested military systems.
Beyond defence cooperation, Prime Minister Modi’s visit also focused on strengthening economic and strategic ties. Both countries discussed collaboration in securing resilient supply chains for critical minerals such as nickel and rare earth materials, expanding infrastructure cooperation, including the development of Sabang Port in Indonesia’s Aceh province, and exploring technological partnerships in areas such as electronic voting systems.
While officials have confirmed the planned supply of the missile systems, details regarding the number of missiles, financial value of the agreements, delivery timelines, and any technology transfer arrangements have not yet been made public.
The defence agreements underscore the growing strategic convergence between India and Indonesia in the Indo-Pacific, where both nations continue to advocate for secure maritime trade routes, regional stability, and a rules-based international order. The expanded cooperation also reflects India’s increasing capability to design, manufacture, and export advanced defence technologies to trusted international partners.
