Indonesia and India Announce Defence Cooperation Including BrahMos Missile Procurement

The cooperation was announced during a bilateral meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday. A specific agreement for the procurement of air-to-air missiles between Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Republikorp was also presented before the two heads of state and their delegations. The defence cooperation on the BrahMos and AAM missiles was part of a total of 16 cooperation documents announced during PM Modi’s state visit. In a joint press statement, PM Modi affirmed India’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Indonesia in various fields, including defence, disaster management, and security, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. ‘Today we agreed to increase cooperation in defence exchanges, disaster management, and industrial cooperation, and the coast guards of both countries will work together to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean,’ Modi stated. President Prabowo added that amidst increasing transnational security challenges, both nations are committed to deepening capacity building in new technologies, combating transnational crime, and developing digital infrastructure. While specific details of the BrahMos deal remain undisclosed, Indonesia has been aiming to acquire the system for several years. The Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, previously described the BrahMos as a highly affordable and reliable system, suitable for acquisition by countries like Indonesia. He noted that India has already concluded a BrahMos deal with the Philippines and that discussions with Indonesia have reached a very advanced stage, with hopes to finalise several related agreements soon.