Vietnam-BrahMos missile deal nearing finalization, says BrahMos Aerospace chief

New Delhi: India is on the verge of finalising a significant defence export agreement with Vietnam for the sale of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. According to Jaiteerth Joshi, Chief of BrahMos Aerospace, the negotiations have reached their final stage, with only a few minor clearances remaining. Joshi made the announcement in Nagpur during an event marking the rollout of the 100th indigenous booster for the BrahMos missile programme, manufactured by Solar Industries India Ltd.

"We are in the almost final stages of export negotiations with Vietnam, with only minor clearances left before the deal is finalised," Joshi told ANI. He also revealed that discussions are ongoing with several other countries across both eastern and western regions for potential exports. "Once the government approval comes, we will make an official announcement," he added.

The BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM), is one of India's most advanced defence systems. Named after the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moskva River in Russia, the two-stage missile is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air platforms. It operates on a "fire-and-forget" principle, carrying a conventional warhead and achieving speeds of up to Mach 2.8, making it highly precise and difficult to intercept.

The Vietnam deal aligns with India's broader strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian nation. Last month, P. Kumaran, former Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted Vietnam's importance as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region. He noted that discussions on multiple defence platforms, including BrahMos, are ongoing under the India-Vietnam Joint Vision Statement for Defence Partnership 2030.

Joshi also outlined significant advancements in the BrahMos programme. Over the past 18 months, value engineering initiatives have reduced raw material costs by approximately 24% and manufacturing costs by around 10%. Overall, the Indian component cost is expected to decline by nearly 20% in the next one to two years. Future developments include work on the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) and extended-range variants, with research focusing on lighter designs using composite materials. Final specifications will be determined after completing design validation and simulation studies.

The event in Nagpur marked a milestone in the indigenisation of the BrahMos programme, with the delivery of the 100th indigenous booster. A component previously imported from Russia is now being manufactured domestically. Additionally, warhead trials are underway, and once completed, imported warheads will also be replaced with indigenous ones.

On the operational front, Joshi disclosed that the BrahMos missile recently underwent a "live" combat test during Operation Sindoor, demonstrating its capabilities. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Russia to increase production requirements for the missile programme, reflecting the evolving defence needs of both nations.

India's efforts to expand its footprint in the global arms market continue, with the BrahMos missile emerging as a key export prospect. The Vietnam deal, once finalised, is expected to further cement India's position as a major player in the defence export sector.