BrahMos Aerospace has formally presented its missile systems to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and submitted a detailed proposal for a potential sale of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, marking a significant development in India’s growing defence-export push.
The proposal follows earlier discussions between India and the UAE over the possible acquisition of Indian defence systems. Reuters reported in June that the two countries were already holding talks on BrahMos as well as India’s Akashteer air-defence system, with the discussions described at the time as being at an early stage but progressing quickly.
The latest proposal puts the BrahMos system closer to becoming a potential part of the UAE’s future precision-strike capabilities. If the deal moves forward, the UAE could become the first Gulf country to acquire the BrahMos missile, giving India an important foothold in the Middle Eastern defence market.
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia and is designed for deployment from land, naval and air platforms. Its high-speed capability and multi-platform configuration make it suitable for a range of anti-ship and land-attack missions. Reuters has described BrahMos as one of the world’s fastest cruise missiles.
The UAE has been looking to diversify its defence partnerships and strengthen its ability to respond to emerging regional security challenges. Its existing inventory includes advanced U.S.-supplied systems such as the THAAD and Patriot air-defence systems, as well as the ATACMS ballistic missile. The potential acquisition of BrahMos would add a different capability based on a high-speed precision-strike system.
The potential BrahMos deal also reflects the expanding strategic relationship between India and the UAE. Defence cooperation has gained momentum alongside broader economic, trade and energy ties between the two countries. For Abu Dhabi, cooperation with India could contribute to a more diversified defence supplier base, while New Delhi sees Gulf markets as an important opportunity for expanding its defence exports.
India’s BrahMos export campaign has already gained international traction. The Philippines became the first foreign customer for the missile in 2022, while India has subsequently expanded discussions and agreements with other potential customers. Reuters reported that India had signed BrahMos deals with Vietnam and Indonesia and that other countries had also expressed interest.
However, any BrahMos export to the UAE would require the necessary approval from Russia because the missile was jointly developed by India and Russia. Reuters reported that sources familiar with the discussions did not expect Russian approval to become a major obstacle, citing Moscow’s close relations with Abu Dhabi.
The proposal therefore represents more than a potential commercial sale. A successful UAE acquisition would strengthen India’s position as an exporter of advanced military technology and demonstrate the growing international interest in Indian-origin defence systems.
For the UAE, BrahMos could provide an additional high-speed precision-strike option alongside its existing Western-origin weapons. For India, securing a customer in the Gulf would mark another important step in its ambition to expand the global footprint of its defence industry.
At present, the UAE’s consideration of the proposal does not mean that a final procurement contract has been signed. Further negotiations, technical evaluation and government approvals would be required before any sale is concluded.