On July 7, an Indian government official said that India will supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra air-to-air missiles to Indonesia, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a two-day visit to Jakarta, AFP reported.
Indian sources previously indicated that an agreement worth about 630 million USD is likely to be signed during this visit.
Indonesia will be the third country to sign an agreement to purchase missiles manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited of India. The agreement marks a significant expansion in India's defense export activities, while deepening strategic relations with the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
The BrahMos missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world and can be launched from ground, sea and air platforms. The Astra long-range air-to-air missile can be integrated on Sukhoi fighter jets manufactured by Russia in the Indonesian Air Force.
In March, Indonesia said it had reached an agreement with India to purchase the BrahMos missile system, which is jointly owned by the governments of India and Russia. At that time, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense told Reuters that the agreement was in its final stage and could be worth from 200 to 350 million USD.
Negotiations on the BrahMos agreement are expected to focus on a phased procurement model, allowing Indonesia to gradually expand its missile capabilities, a third source from India said. The package of agreements being considered includes missile systems, support infrastructure, operation training, maintenance services and other technical support necessary for long-term deployment.
