India Says BrahMos Missile Pact With Indonesia Is About Building Defense Industry, Not Just Buying Weapons

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — India said its agreement to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and air-to-air missile systems to Indonesia is intended to help both countries strengthen indigenous defense capabilities, framing the deal as a strategic industrial partnership rather than a traditional arms sale.

The agreement emerged as one of the most significant outcomes of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Indonesia this week, where New Delhi and Jakarta signed 16 cooperation agreements spanning defense, technology, digital infrastructure, healthcare, maritime security and cultural preservation.

Defense Cooperation Moves Beyond Procurement

The missile partnership signals a broader shift in Indonesia-India defense ties as both governments seek to reduce dependence on foreign military technologies while expanding domestic industrial capabilities. For Indonesia, which has prioritized defense modernization under President Prabowo Subianto, the agreement aligns with efforts to develop a more self-sufficient defense industry. For India, it advances New Delhi's strategy of positioning its defense manufacturers as competitive global suppliers while strengthening strategic relationships across the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East) at India's Ministry of External Affairs, described missile cooperation as a new area within the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

"BrahMos and air-to-air missiles represent a new area of collaboration between us. The benefits are clear—we become more self-reliant and develop our own capabilities based on systems that we own and master," Tandon said.

Political Leaders Set Strategy, Companies Handle Commercial Terms

Tandon said Indonesia and India, as two major developing economies, share an interest in expanding strategic cooperation across multiple sectors, with defense becoming an increasingly important pillar of the bilateral relationship.

He stressed, however, that discussions between heads of government focused on strategic objectives rather than commercial details surrounding weapons procurement.

"Commercial agreements are not really discussed at the highest level," Tandon said during Tuesday's briefing. "Those matters are left to the respective companies to finalize. But this is an important area of collaboration and one that has been discussed extensively."

Under the agreements, BrahMos Aerospace will work with Indonesia's Ministry of Defense on the cruise missile program, while Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will partner with Republicorp, an Indonesian defense company, on air-to-air missile cooperation.

Part of a Broader Strategic Partnership

The missile agreements were signed in the presence of President Prabowo and Prime Minister Modi during a ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.

They formed part of a broader package of 16 bilateral agreements announced during Modi's visit, underscoring the rapid expansion of relations between Southeast Asia's largest economy and the world's most populous nation.

Speaking after bilateral talks on Tuesday, Modi said Indonesia and India had entered a new phase of strategic cooperation.

"In recent years, Indonesia and India have enjoyed renewed energy in bilateral relations, greater confidence, and deeper cooperation," Modi said.

He added that both countries had agreed to deepen cooperation in defense exchanges, maritime security, disaster management and defense industries.

"As two neighboring maritime nations, we have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the blue economy, port development, and maritime trade," Modi said.

President Prabowo likewise emphasized that the two countries would expand collaboration on counterterrorism, cross-border crime, emerging technologies and digital infrastructure, reflecting a broader strategic convergence as security challenges intensify across the Indo-Pacific.

The BrahMos agreement is widely viewed as one of the most consequential defense initiatives signed during Modi's visit, highlighting India's growing ambitions as a defense exporter and Indonesia's effort to modernize its armed forces while expanding domestic industrial capabilities.