Indonesia and India advance defence cooperation through acquiring BrahMos and Astra missiles.
JAKARTA – Indonesia and India have strengthened their strategic partnership in defence and diplomacy during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jakarta. One of the key items on the agenda is the planned purchase of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra air-to-air missiles worth around USD 630 million, equivalent to IDR 11 trillion.
An Indian government official said on Tuesday (7/7) that Indonesia would become the third country to sign a contract to acquire BrahMos missiles produced by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.
As reported by CNBC Indonesia, Indian sources previously told Reuters that the agreement, valued at around USD 630 million, was expected to be signed during Modi’s visit to Indonesia.
If finalised, the deal would become one of India’s largest defence exports to Southeast Asia while further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. The agreement is also seen as reflecting increasingly close Indonesia-India ties amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. It can be launched from land, sea and air platforms and is regarded as one of the world’s fastest cruise missiles.
In addition to BrahMos, India is expected to supply Astra beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles, which are capable of engaging targets beyond the pilot’s line of sight. The missiles can be integrated with the Sukhoi fighter aircraft currently operated by the Indonesian Air Force.
Plans to acquire the BrahMos system first emerged in March 2026, when the Indonesian government said it had reached a preliminary agreement with India to purchase the missiles.
At the time, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence told Reuters that negotiations had entered an advanced stage, with the contract estimated to be worth between USD 200 million and USD 350 million. However, according to the Indian official, the scope of the cooperation has since expanded, increasing the package’s value to around USD 630 million.
According to Indian sources, the discussions extend beyond missile procurement and will be implemented in phases, covering supporting infrastructure, personnel training, maintenance services and technical support to ensure the system’s long-term operational readiness.
Interest in the BrahMos missile has increased after India used the system for the first time in combat during last year’s four-day conflict with Pakistan. Before Indonesia, India had exported the missile system to the Philippines and Vietnam, while several other countries, including the United Arab Emirates, are also reportedly considering purchases.
Prabowo awards Modi Indonesia’s highest civilian honour
Beyond defence cooperation, Modi’s visit also reinforced diplomatic ties. President Prabowo Subianto awarded Modi the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna, Indonesia’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations.
“Today, as President of the Republic of Indonesia, I express my gratitude to His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting Indonesia’s highest honour, the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna,” Prabowo said, as quoted by Antara News.
According to Prabowo, the award recognises Modi’s leadership in elevating Indonesia-India relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership.
He also said Modi had consistently supported programmes and projects aligned with Indonesia’s development agenda.
“Prime Minister Modi’s visit today marks an important milestone and reflects our shared commitment to advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership through concrete and mutually beneficial cooperation,” Prabowo said.
Responding to the award, Modi expressed his appreciation to President Prabowo, the Indonesian government and the Indonesian people.
“This honour is not only for me; it belongs to the millions of people of India. It reflects the friendship of the Indonesian people and symbolises the deep and historic bond between India and Indonesia,” Modi said.
He added that bilateral relations have continued to strengthen since Indonesia and India upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018.
During his two-day visit to Indonesia, Modi is also scheduled to sign several bilateral cooperation agreements and reaffirm India’s support for the revitalisation of Prambanan Temple before travelling to Yogyakarta on 8 July 2026. (DH/ZH)
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