India in Talks to Export BrahMos Missiles and Akashteer Air Defence Systems to UAE

India is in advanced discussions with the United Arab Emirates to sell the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akashteer air defence system, according to officials familiar with the negotiations. The proposed export would mark a significant expansion of India’s defence technology footprint in the Gulf region and represent a major validation of indigenously developed military platforms.

The BrahMos is a ramjet-powered cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia through the BrahMos Aerospace consortium. With a flight speed of Mach 2.8 to 3.0, it ranks among the world’s fastest cruise missiles in operational service. The missile can be deployed from multiple platforms including ships, aircraft, and ground-based launchers, providing operators with tactical flexibility across multiple domains.

BrahMos has been in service with the Indian Navy since 2005 and was integrated with the Indian Air Force in 2007. The system has undergone continuous upgrades, including extended range variants and improved guidance systems. The missile’s subsonic variant, BrahMos-ER, extended the effective engagement range, while recent developmental work has focused on hypersonic iterations and air-breathing propulsion enhancements.

The Akashteer is a mobile, medium-range air defence system developed by DRDO for the Indian Army. It combines radar surveillance with guided missile interception capability, operating across multiple altitude bands to engage aircraft and cruise missiles. The system represents India’s indigenous effort to reduce dependence on imported air defence solutions and has undergone operational trials with Army units.

UAE’s interest in both systems reflects growing defence procurement patterns among Gulf Cooperation Council members, who have increasingly prioritised indigenous and non-traditional suppliers alongside established Western partners. The Emirates have modernised their air defence infrastructure in recent years and continue to expand anti-ship and cruise missile capabilities.

India’s defence exports have accelerated under the government’s strategic push to position Indian defence industry as a reliable supplier to friendly nations. BrahMos has already been offered to several countries and represents one of India’s most successful defence export proposals. Prior interest from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam underscores growing regional appetite for the system.

Export of these systems requires approval through India’s Defence Procurement Procedure and compliance with technology transfer protocols established through BrahMos Aerospace. DRDO typically works closely with the Ministry of Defence to evaluate export proposals and ensure strategic alignment with India’s foreign policy objectives in the region.

The potential sale also reflects deepening India-UAE defence and security cooperation, which has expanded across naval exercises, military training exchanges, and defence industrial collaboration. Such partnerships form part of India’s broader strategic engagement in the Gulf, where the country maintains significant maritime and energy security interests.