The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is becoming a major component of India’s defence export strategy, with BrahMos Aerospace reporting growing international interest following the system’s reported combat debut during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Jointly developed by India and Russia, BrahMos was used by Indian forces during the operation, with the supplied report citing strikes against major Pakistani military installations, including Nur Khan airbase. The reported operational performance has strengthened the missile’s international profile and supported India’s ambitions to expand its defence exports. India’s defence exports have reached ₹38,400 crore, representing annual growth of 62.7%, according to the supplied report. BrahMos Aerospace Managing Director and CEO Dr Jaiteerth Joshi said the programme’s export progress began before its combat use, with the first overseas order secured in 2022 from the Philippines. He added that two additional Southeast Asian countries had signed deals in 2026, although their identities and contract details were not specified in the supplied material. The company is prioritising delivery of existing orders for the Indian Armed Forces and overseas customers while expanding production capacity. Facilities in Hyderabad, Nagpur, Pilani and Lucknow are operating at full capacity to support demand. BrahMos Aerospace is also establishing specialised technology centres, described as “Tech-bricks,” to advance research and development for future missile variants and testing programmes. To improve supply-chain resilience, the company intends to increase the number of suppliers for individual systems and subsystems from one or two to four or five. The move is expected to increase production flexibility and competition in quality and pricing. Orders and deliveries involving the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam are expected to push BrahMos-related exports beyond $600 million, according to the supplied report. Future development efforts include BrahMos-NG, a smaller, lighter and stealthier variant being developed by DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya through BrahMos Aerospace. The new missile is intended to expand compatibility with aircraft and allow platforms to carry greater numbers of weapons while retaining supersonic performance. The company is also studying a longer-range variant with a potential reach of 1,500 km. Joshi said the programme remains at the conceptual stage and that discussions with Russia are continuing. He also noted that extended-range capabilities have been demonstrated in tests from land, sea and air platforms, exceeding the original 290 km range limitation. Separately, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with BrahMos Aerospace on 6 October for fire-control systems and launchers for Indian Navy warships. The project specifies at least 68% indigenous content and is expected to create opportunities for Indian industries, including micro, small and medium enterprises. Expanding exports, higher domestic content, improved production capacity and ongoing research are positioning BrahMos as a key element of India’s defence modernisation and export ambitions.
