At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, India's defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the signing of a $629 million deal to sell BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam. This development marks a significant milestone for India's defence exports, with a similar deal with Indonesia nearing completion.
The BrahMos missile, co-developed by India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM, was initially reserved for India's strategic use. However, the export landscape changed in 2022 when the Philippines placed a $375 million order, making it the first foreign buyer. Deliveries began in 2024, and now with Vietnam and potentially Indonesia, the BrahMos has become India's most successful defence export.
This surge in exports benefits a range of Indian companies involved in the missile's production and integration. Data Patterns, a key player since 2006, has secured significant orders, including a ₹460 million production order in Q2 FY26 and multiple service contracts totaling ₹1,050 million in H1 FY26. The company is poised for further growth with a strong order book and new opportunities in the BrahMos Seeker.
Premier Explosives, specializing in high-energy materials, plays a crucial role in the BrahMos ecosystem by producing rocket motors. The company has seen a revenue CAGR of 21% over the past five years and plans to expand its production capacity to meet growing demand.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is integral to the BrahMos program through its expertise in integrating the missile with aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. With an order book exceeding ₹2 trillion, HAL is targeting export markets to diversify its revenue base.
Solar Industries has been supplying indigenous booster systems for BrahMos since 2016. With a defence order book of over ₹180 billion, the company is expanding its capacity and focusing on emerging areas like drone warfare.
Background
The BrahMos missile, a product of Indo-Russian collaboration, was initially reserved for India's strategic use. The shift towards exporting this missile began with the Philippines in 2022, marking a new chapter in India's defence export strategy.
The BrahMos story is no longer just about India's own arsenal. It's about a missile that the world is starting to line up for. With the Philippines already a customer, Vietnam now signed, and Indonesia reportedly on the verge, India's flagship weapon has turned into a genuine export engine. And every fresh order tends to flow downstream, lifting the companies that design, power, and assemble the system.
