Moscow shows interest in buying BrahMos; Vietnam likely to seal the deal soon
Moscow shows interest in buying BrahMos. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)
New Delhi: In what could be a boost to India’s BrahMos missile exports, Russia has shown interest in procuring the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, and Vietnam is set to seal a BrahMos missile deal as export talks enter the final stages, said BrahMos Aerospace Chief Jaiteerth Joshi.
BrahMos is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM).
Joshi was speaking in Nagpur after flagging off the 100th indigenous booster manufactured by Solar Industries India Ltd for the BrahMos missile programme.
Regarding the export of these missiles to Russia, Joshi said that Moscow had shown interest in the procurement of these missiles. He said the country wanted to increase the requirement as per the present scenario. He added that the discussions between the two countries were ongoing on the induction of the missiles into the Russian arsenal.
Joshi said that the industry could play a role in augmenting the existing Russian production capacity. He said, “They [Russia] have the facility, but the facility may not be enough to augment that. We will work hand-in-hand; we will work, and we will supply it from India.”
Joshi remarked on BrahMos missiles’ usage during Operation Sindoor. He called Operation Sindoor a “live test” which was a “success story” that the entire country and the world know about today. Calling it a “significant achievement for the people”, he said that usually, once a manufactured missile is not tested in a live scenario, this is the first time that the missile could be tested on India’s adversary.
Vietnam next to buy BrahMos
Vietnam will be the third country after the Philippines and Indonesia to buy the BrahMos missile. Regarding the deal with the Southeast Asian country, Joshi said that it was in the final stages and that a few clearances were waiting to happen before the conclusion of the deal.
“Export negotiations are in almost final stages with Vietnam, with only minor clearances remaining before finalization. We are in talks with several other countries in both eastern and western regions. Once the government approval comes, we will come out on the open forum,” he told reporters. Only in May did India host the Vietnamese president, To Lam, in New Delhi.
