Is Indonesia Next After Philippines to Buy BrahMos?

Indonesia’s defense minister Prabowo Subianto visited BrahMos Aerospace’s pavilion during NAVDEX 2023 exhibition in Abu Dhabi today, fanning speculations that supersonic cruise missiles could be on its shopping list.

Indonesia has expressed interest in the Indo-Russian BrahMos system since 2018. The deal, if finalized, will make it the second Southeast Asian country to buy BrahMos missiles.Philippines bought them for $374 million in January 2022 while Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam also have their eyes on the BrahMos.

Indian media reported last July that Indonesia was in the final stages of talks with manufacturers to buy BrahMos weapons systems to fit them onboard its warships.

A team from BrahMos reportedly visited an Indonesian shipyard to study the possibility of installing the missile, reports say.

BrahMos is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile. It can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms, and flies at nearly three times the speed of sound.