Indonesia Reportedly Ready to Purchase BrahMos and Astra Missiles from India

Indonesia and India are reportedly preparing to strengthen defence cooperation through the signing of an agreement for the purchase of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra air-to-air missiles. The transaction is estimated to be worth around US$630 million and is set to be one of the main agendas during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Jakarta.

A senior Indian government official stated on Tuesday (7/7/2026) that Indonesia will become the third country to sign a purchase agreement for the BrahMos missile, which is produced by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited. The deal is expected to be a major step in expanding India’s defence industry exports while deepening strategic ties with Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia. The cooperation comes amid increasing competition between India and China for influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, known as one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world. It is capable of being launched from land, sea, and air platforms. The Astra missile is an indigenous Indian beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile that can be integrated with Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets, which are currently operated by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU).

Indonesia first announced its intention to procure the BrahMos system in March, with the Ministry of Defence stating that negotiations had reached an advanced stage and the contract value was initially estimated at US$200 million to US$350 million. However, the expanded package now under consideration includes not only the missile systems but also supporting infrastructure, operator training, and long-term technical assistance. Global interest in the BrahMos system has surged since its combat use in a conflict between India and Pakistan last year.