India finalizes BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam

India has finalized an agreement to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam, a senior official confirmed on Saturday. The announcement, made by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, marks the first official confirmation of the long-discussed deal. Singh also stated that negotiations for a similar missile agreement with Indonesia are now in their final stages.

If concluded, Indonesia would become the third member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to acquire the BrahMos system, following the Philippines and Vietnam. The Philippines was the first international customer, signing a contract valued at approximately $375 million in 2022 for shore-based anti-ship missile batteries, with deliveries already underway.

The value of the Vietnam contract has not been officially disclosed, though previous reports have estimated it at around $629 million, including missiles, training, and logistical support. The agreement follows recent high-level defence engagement between New Delhi and Hanoi, including discussions during a visit by Vietnamese President To Lam to India earlier this month, where both sides...