India, UAE discuss BrahMos missile and Akashteer sale

India is in preliminary talks with the United Arab Emirates to sell its BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and Akashteer air defence system, according to sources familiar with the matter. The discussions, reported on Monday, represent a potential expansion of India's defence exports into the Gulf security market.

The talks are described as being at an early stage and progressing rapidly. The UAE has expressed interest in multiple Indian weapons platforms, with the BrahMos missile and the Akashteer command-and-control system being key items under discussion. Neither government has officially commented on the reports.

Any export of the BrahMos missile would require approval from Russia, as the weapon is jointly developed by the two countries. Sources indicated that Russian clearance is not expected to be a significant hurdle, given Moscow's close relationship with Abu Dhabi. The BrahMos is considered one of the world's fastest operational supersonic cruise missiles and can be launched from land, sea, and air platforms. The Akashteer system, developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd in collaboration with the Indian Army, is an automated air defence network designed to integrate sensors...