Indonesia, India Agree on BrahMos Missile Purchase

Indonesia and India have solidified their defense ties with a landmark agreement for Indonesia to acquire Indian-made BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. The announcement came Tuesday during the state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jakarta, signaling a major advancement in the strategic partnership between the two Indo-Pacific nations.

The defense pact, though details on contract value and delivery schedules remain undisclosed, transforms years of preliminary discussions into a formal commitment. This acquisition is a cornerstone of Indonesia's long-standing efforts to bolster its coastal defense capabilities. In a parallel move to enhance aerial capabilities, India's state-owned defense manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) also entered into a cooperation agreement with Indonesian firm Republikorp for air-to-air missiles.

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Today we agreed to enhance cooperation in field of defense exchange, disaster management, and industrial cooperation. The coast guards of the two countries will also work together to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

These defense agreements were part of a broader exchange of 16 bilateral cooperation documents during Modi's visit. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the shared geopolitical vision for securing critical maritime security, stating, "Today we agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of defense exchange, disaster management, and industrial cooperation. The coast guards of the two countries will also work together to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean."

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto underscored the importance of deepening the Indonesia-India Security Dialogue amidst escalating regional security challenges and unconventional threats. "As transnational security issues rise, we are committed to deepening capacity development in new technologies, combating transnational crime, and developing digital infrastructure," Prabowo stated. The finalization of the BrahMos deal follows years of strong interest from Jakarta, with India's Ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, previously noting that negotiations were in their "very advanced stage."

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As transnational security issues rise, we are committed to deepening capacity development in new technologies, combating transnational crime, and developing digital infrastructure.