Indonesia-India BrahMos deal buys Jakarta conflict insurance

SCMP | July 8, 2026, 5:30 a.m. | Original
This Week in Asia Politics

Analysts say the missile deal aims to give Indonesia a supersonic shield to insulate its waterways from great-power clashes

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BrahMos cruise missiles jointly developed by India and Russia are displayed at a defence expo in Kronstadt near St. Petersburg, Russia, last month. Photo: EPA

Indonesia has become the third Southeast Asian nation – after Vietnam and the Philippines – to buy the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system jointly developed by India and Russia .

Analysts say the missiles will play a vital role in protecting Indonesia’s strategic waterways from becoming collateral damage in the event of a future great-power conflict.

On Wednesday, the two leaders also visited the nearly 1,000-year-old Prambanan Hindu Temple in Yogyakarta, a symbolic gesture designed to illustrate their commitment to deepening cultural ties.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto shake hands after attending a joint press conference at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto shake hands after attending a joint press conference at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Modi hailed his visit as opening “a golden chapter” in India-Indonesia relations, while Prabowo touted it as a “historic milestone”.

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