Vietnam joins rush for India’s battle-tested BrahMos missiles
Vietnam is the latest to ditch Western hardware for India’s proven BrahMos — 15 more nations may follow.
Vietnam has emerged as the latest nation to pursue India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with negotiations at an advanced stage during Vietnamese President To Lam’s visit to New Delhi. The potential $700 million deal would make Vietnam the third foreign buyer of the joint Indo-Russian missile system, following the Philippines’ $375 million purchase in 2022 and Indonesia’s $340 million agreement signed in March 2026. India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the talks, with Secretary (East) P. Kumaran noting the BrahMos as a key platform under discussion.
The missile’s growing export appeal is driven by both its supersonic performance and real-world combat validation. BrahMos was battle-tested in May 2025 during India’s Operation Sindoor — a military campaign against Pakistan following a militant attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. The missile’s ability to fly at Mach 2.8 and its precision strike capability have attracted at least 15 other countries, reflecting a broader shift among Asian and global militaries away from US and NATO-linked hardware toward non-Western alternatives with fewer geopolitical strings attached.
- Vietnam in advanced talks for a $700 million BrahMos missile deal — third country after the Philippines ($375M, 2022) and Indonesia ($340M, 2026).
- Missile proven in combat during India’s May 2025 Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, boosting its export credibility.
- Over 15 other nations reportedly interested, signaling a shift away from Western systems toward non-NATO alternatives.
Why It Matters
Asia’s defense landscape is pivoting: battle-tested, non-Western weaponry like BrahMos is reshaping procurement strategies and power balances.