India and Indonesia have entered a stronger phase of defence cooperation after finalising major agreements for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra Mk-1 air-to-air missile systems during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Jakarta.
The agreements were concluded during talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and mark a major boost for India’s defence export ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.
BrahMos Deal Strengthens Indonesia’s Coastal Defence
The key agreement includes procurement of an additional battery of the land-based BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system.
BrahMos, jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, can travel at speeds of up to Mach 2.8 and has an operational range exceeding 290 km.
For Indonesia, the system is expected to strengthen coastal defence and improve protection across its critical sea lanes and maritime chokepoints.
Astra Missile Opens New Defence Export Opportunity
India will also supply the indigenous Astra Mk-1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
The Astra Mk-1 can engage aerial targets at a range of around 80–110 km and is already operational with the Indian Air Force.
Bharat Dynamics Limited will oversee integration of the missile system with Indonesia’s Russian-origin Su-30 fighter aircraft.
Together, the BrahMos and Astra export package is estimated to be worth more than US$600 million.
Sabang Port and Strategic Maritime Cooperation
Beyond missile exports, India and Indonesia also agreed to strengthen maritime and infrastructure cooperation.
A major focus is the joint development of Sabang Port, located near the Strait of Malacca. The port is around 160 km from India’s Great Nicobar Island and holds strategic importance for maritime monitoring, logistics and shipping security.
The cooperation could help both countries improve oversight of commercial routes connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Supply Chain and Critical Minerals Partnership
The visit also produced broader agreements covering critical minerals, rare-earth magnet manufacturing and steel supply chains.
Indonesia is a major global producer of nickel and other industrial raw materials. Cooperation with India in this sector could support high-tech manufacturing, defence production and supply chain resilience.
In total, the visit resulted in 14 agreements across defence, public health, education, space research, telecom security and industrial cooperation.
Indo-Pacific Alignment
Both countries reaffirmed support for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
The joint statement also highlighted freedom of navigation, overflight and adherence to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Indonesia will also deploy a permanent Liaison Officer at India’s Integrated Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region to enable real-time maritime information sharing.
Business and Strategic Outlook
India’s growing defence exports are creating fresh opportunities across defence manufacturing, aerospace, logistics, shipbuilding, ports, critical minerals and advanced electronics.
For companies exploring international expansion or business setup in dubai, such defence and infrastructure partnerships show how global trade corridors, strategic supply chains and government-backed industrial ecosystems are becoming increasingly important.
Conclusion
The India–Indonesia defence partnership marks a major step in India’s emergence as a serious defence exporter.
The BrahMos and Astra missile deals, combined with maritime and supply chain cooperation, signal a deeper strategic relationship between two major Indo-Pacific democracies.
Shunyatax Global Insight
Shunyatax Global says that India’s defence export momentum is opening new commercial opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, aerospace components, critical minerals and global supply chains. Businesses evaluating business setup in dubai should track such defence-linked trade corridors, as Dubai can act as a strategic hub for international contracting, logistics and regional market access.