India has taken another major step in expanding its defence footprint in Southeast Asia, with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirming that a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile deal with Vietnam has already been signed, while a similar agreement with Indonesia is in its final stages.
Speaking at a media interaction on the sidelines of the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, Singh revealed that Hanoi had already concluded the purchase agreement, though an official public announcement is yet to be made.
#BREAKING: India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh while speaking at the Shangri-la dialogue says that India has signed Brahmos deal with Vietnam and India is at final stages of the Brahmos deal with Indonesia. pic.twitter.com/Xo1YMywfhj
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) May 30, 2026
“My understanding is that with both Indonesia and Vietnam, the deal is in the final stages. In fact, for Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced, but it’s already been signed,” Singh said in response to a question from a Vietnamese delegate.
According to reports, the BrahMos package for Vietnam is estimated to be worth around Rs 6,000 crore (approximately $629 million) and is expected to include missile systems, training and logistical support. The development marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to emerge as a major defence exporter and deepen strategic ties across the Indo-Pacific.
The confirmation comes after the Philippines became the first foreign customer of the Indo-Russian co-developed BrahMos missile system. Manila received the first batch of missiles in 2024, followed by a second delivery in April 2025, showcasing India’s growing ability to fulfil large-scale defence export commitments.
Highlighting New Delhi’s approach towards regional security cooperation, Singh stressed India’s strong commitment to the ASEAN bloc and described its member nations as trusted partners.
“We treat all of you as friendly foreign countries with whom we can share advanced defence technologies,” he said, adding that sophisticated military technologies are generally shared only with nations that enjoy a high level of trust and strategic confidence.
The BrahMos missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is regarded as one of the world’s fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles and has become a flagship product of India’s defence export ambitions. Interest in the system has steadily grown among countries seeking to strengthen their coastal defence and maritime deterrence capabilities amid evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
Addressing delegates at the summit, Singh said India remains ready to collaborate with partners across Asia and beyond in building resilient supply chains, trusted defence partnerships, secure maritime commons and innovation-driven cooperation. He noted that resilience has emerged as one of the most critical strategic requirements in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
The announcement also follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to Hanoi, where he held extensive discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Rajesh Kumar Singh also held separate meetings with senior officials from Australia, the European Union and the Netherlands as India intensified its defence diplomacy with key Indo-Pacific and European partners. During discussions with Australian Defence Secretary Meghan Quinn, both sides reviewed progress under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and explored new avenues for defence cooperation.
The impending BrahMos agreements with Vietnam and Indonesia underscore India’s growing role as a defence technology provider and signal New Delhi’s expanding strategic influence across Southeast Asia at a time of heightened geopolitical competition in the region.
