【Indonesia to Acquire BrahMos Anti-Ship Missiles from India】
According to a report by the Asian Military Review website on March 11, 2026: The Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on March 9 that it had reached an agreement with India to purchase the BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles.
Defense spokesperson Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait stated, "Indonesia has established a partnership with India in the procurement of the BrahMos missile system. This is part of our efforts to modernize weapons, especially to strengthen coastal defense capabilities."
In fact, the first to publicly announce this arms sale was the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces, General Romeo Brawner Jr., even before the official confirmation from Indonesia.
This move by Jakarta marks the culmination of bilateral negotiations between the two countries since 2023. Although the Indonesian Ministry of Defense did not disclose specific details and the amount of the purchase, online reports suggest that the contract may be worth between $300 million and $450 million.
The order is expected to include launch vehicles, radars, and missiles, but the exact configuration has not been disclosed. It is reported that Indonesia has opted for the truck-launched version suitable for mobile operations.
The BrahMos is an anti-ship cruise missile equipped with a ramjet engine and capable of speeds up to 2.8 Mach. It has various versions, including air-launched, land-launched, and sea-launched. The missile features a two-stage structure: the first stage is a solid-fuel booster, and the second stage is a liquid-fuel cruise segment.
The land-based version has a range of approximately 290 kilometers, using inertial navigation combined with satellite positioning for guidance, and employs active radar homing in the terminal phase. The missile uses a high-low trajectory attack mode, with a warhead weighing more than 200 kilograms, which is a high-explosive/semi-armor-piercing type.
In early 2022, the Philippines purchased three sets of BrahMos missile systems. The missile was successfully used during India's "Sindoor Operation" against Pakistan in May 2025, demonstrating its high speed, precision, and penetration capabilities, and is regarded as a "battle-proven" weapon.
For archipelagic countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, the BrahMos provides the capability to protect vast territorial seas and land channels using "anti-access/area denial" (A2/AD) measures.
Indonesia has previously encountered foreign vessels interfering with energy exploration activities in the North Natuna Sea. The BrahMos is expected to address such challenges, helping Indonesia establish a maritime defense zone. Sirait stated that the new system will "enhance the deterrent capability to safeguard national sovereignty."
The BrahMos will complement Indonesia's existing French MM40 Block 3, Russian P-800 Oniks/Yakhont, and Chinese C-705 anti-ship missiles. However, the BrahMos offers a longer range, supersonic strike capability, and higher maneuverability, which are considered crucial advantages in today's security environment.
Russia holds a 49.5% stake in the joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, which is owned by India and Russia.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/1859514432280843/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.