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India is expected to explore a potential deal to export its supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles to Vietnam during the ongoing visit of Vietnamese President To Lam to New Delhi. In the past, India has provided military support to the Vietnamese armed forces across multiple domains, gifting the INS Kirpan.
India is expected to explore a potential deal to export its supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles to Vietnam during the visit of Vietnamese President To Lam to New Delhi, signalling a deepening of defence and strategic ties between the two nations.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the proposed agreement–estimated to be worth over ₹60 billion (approximately $700 million)–could become one of India's most significant defence exports in Southeast Asia.
The discussions are likely to form a central pillar of broader talks aimed at strengthening bilateral security cooperation.
The proposed agreement to export supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles to Vietnam, worth over ₹60 billion (approximately $700 million), could become one of India's most significant defence exports
The BrahMos missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is regarded as one of the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile systems. Its potential sale to Vietnam underscores India's growing ambition to position itself as a key defence exporter in the Indo-Pacific region.
The visit comes at a time when India and Vietnam have been steadily expanding their strategic partnership. Defence cooperation has emerged as a particularly strong area of engagement. During the 15th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue held in Hanoi in November 2025, both sides identified defence industry collaboration as a priority sector.
India has already played a supportive role in modernising Vietnam's military capabilities. In 2023, New Delhi gifted the indigenously built missile corvette INS Kirpan to the Vietnamese Navy, marking a milestone in bilateral defence relations. It was grand gesture when Admiral Hari Kumar, then Indian Navy Chief, handed over INS Kirpan Vietnamese Navy at Cam Ranh.
Additionally, India has provided training support to Vietnamese armed forces personnel across multiple domains.
During the 15th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue held in Hanoi in November 2025, both sides identified defence industry collaboration as a priority sector
Financial cooperation has also underpinned defence ties. India extended a $100 million line of credit to Vietnam in 2013, under which 12 high-speed guard boats were delivered by 2022. These vessels were built through a combination of Indian and Vietnamese shipbuilding efforts, reflecting a collaborative approach to defence manufacturing. Later, in 2016, India announced a further $500 million line of credit for defence procurement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vietnam.
The potential BrahMos deal follows India's successful $375 million export agreement with the Philippines in 2022, which marked the country's first major overseas sale of the missile system. Reports of ongoing negotiations with Vietnam–estimated at up to $700 million–indicate sustained momentum in India's defence export strategy.
India has also offered an indigenous air defence system to Vietnam – Akash 1S–including the transfer of technologies and local production. India has further proposed co-developing missile technologies and air defence systems.
Beyond defence, economic ties between the two countries are robust and continue to grow. Bilateral trade crossed $16 billion in the last fiscal year. Both nations are expressing interest in further expanding economic engagement across sectors.
India has also offered an indigenous air defence system to Vietnam – Akash 1S–including the transfer of technologies and local production
As it is expected that a BrahMos deal with Vietnam would not only enhance Hanoi's maritime defence capabilities but also reinforce India's strategic presence in Southeast Asia, amid evolving regional security dynamics.
The visit is expected to produce key outcomes, especially in defence, and boost overall trade and diplomatic cooperation.
Manish Kumar Jha is a Consulting & Contributing Editor for SP's Aviation, SP's Land Forces and SP's Naval Forces and a security expert. He writes on national security, military technology, strategic affairs & policies.
