India signs missile deals with fellow BRICS member
India will sell its supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles to fellow BRICS member Indonesia along with Astra air-to-air missiles as the two countries signed a raft of agreements to strengthen their defense and economic cooperation.
Indonesia on Tuesday conferred the country’s highest honor, Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on an official visit to the country.
The two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, and Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Indonesia since then.
The missiles deal is one of the key milestones of Modi’s visit. Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, the BrahMos is among the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world. Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto signed the missile deal along with other bilateral agreements on Tuesday.
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto conferred the country's highest honour ’Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’ medal of honour upon PM @narendramodi.#India | #Indonesia | @PMOIndia | @MEAIndia | @IndianEmbJktpic.twitter.com/SLKdsj4V1l
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 7, 2026
Jointly developed by India and Russia and manufactured in India, BrahMos missiles have already been sold to the Philippines. Global interest in the weapon has ticked up since their lethal use by India against Pakistan last year in a brief clash, which India dubbed Operation Sindoor.
India will also supply additional BrahMos batteries to Jakarta.
🚨Made in 🇮🇳 Missiles Go Global: Indonesia Signs Up For BrahMos & Astra
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) July 7, 2026
The announcement marks a significant boost for India's growing defence export ambitions. https://t.co/JL544CVqoxpic.twitter.com/Wbmj2xpSLO
Astra is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization, and was also used by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor.
Modi’s visit also yielded outcomes on critical minerals and maritime cooperation. India will invest in steel manufacturing, nickel, and rare-earth magnets in Indonesia as New Delhi focuses on strengthening its minerals supply chain.
The two countries will also jointly develop Sabang Port, Indonesia’s northernmost deep-sea port located close to the Strait of Malacca, a global maritime chokepoint. The port is strategically important for India as it is just 160 km away from the Great Nicobar project, a mega initiative by New Delhi to transform the island into a strategic and economic hub.
