Finance Minister Purbaya Clarifies Budget for BrahMos Missile Purchase from India
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has disclosed the government’s plan to modernise main weapon systems through the purchase of BrahMos missile systems from India will not disrupt the nation’s financial condition.
Despite concerns about the current state of the national economy, Purbaya assessed that Indonesia’s economic fundamentals remain in a very strong position to support the agenda.
“The defence budget is already locked,” Purbaya said during a visit to Yogyakarta on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. Therefore, regarding the financing of the supersonic missile system, the budget scheme is already integrated within the allocation set previously.
He assured that fund allocation for the defence sector has been prepared. Thus, the procurement of specific weapons systems such as missiles from India is part of an existing plan within the 2026 budget allocation and does not require additional emergency funds or drastic budget reallocation.
“So the matter of what to spend on has likely already been budgeted within that locked budget for this year in 2026, so there is no problem,” said Purbaya.
Purbaya also dismissed speculation that Indonesia’s economy is experiencing a downturn, which has been said to could hamper defence sector spending.
According to Purbaya, field indicators instead show positive dynamics with continuous expansion across various sectors. He also questioned those claiming the nation’s financial condition is unstable amid still-progressive economic movement. “The economy is still good, everything is moving fast, expansion everywhere.”
Previously, the Ministry of Defence stated it had reached an agreement with India to acquire BrahMos missile systems as part of modernising main weapon systems.
Head of the Defence Ministry’s Information Bureau Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait said the plan to acquire this supersonic missile system has been ongoing for years. “In 2024, a memorandum of understanding or expression of interest was carried out within the framework of defence cooperation between Indonesia and India,” he said in his statement on Thursday, 12 March 2026.