India, UAE in talks for BrahMos missile deal:Report says discussion progressing quickly; Abu Dhabi shows interest after Iran attacks

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are holding discussions on the possible sale of some of New Delhi’s flagship defence systems, including the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile and the Akashteer air defence network, according to four Indian sources cited by Reuters. The talks, which have not been previously reported, come as the UAE looks to strengthen its military capabilities following the recent conflict in the West Asia and seeks to diversify its defence procurement sources. UAE interested in BrahMos, Akashteer According to Reuters, discussions include the potential sale of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and Akashteer, India’s fully automated air defence system developed jointly by state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Indian Army. “UAE has shown interest for a number of our weapon systems including BrahMos and Akashteer. The talks between India and UAE are at initial stages and are progressing fast,” a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Indian officials and the UAE foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Why the UAE is looking at Indian systems The UAE is considering acquiring defence equipment from India and other suppliers after facing attacks from Iran during the recent regional conflict. The Gulf nation is also focused on protecting the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a key route for its energy exports. Earlier this year, the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea to deepen defence cooperation that could be worth more than USD 35 billion. Pearl Pandya, South Asia senior analyst at conflict monitoring group Armed Conflict Location Event Data (ACLED), told Reuters that a broader supplier base benefits Abu Dhabi. “A diversified supplier base gives the UAE more strategic autonomy, and closer ties with India have the added benefit of not antagonising the U.S. as the countries remain allies,” Pandya said. What are BrahMos and Akashteer? BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is among the world’s fastest cruise missiles and can be launched from land, sea and air platforms. The missile has a range of about 290 kilometres. Akashteer is an automated air defence command-and-control system designed to integrate information from multiple sensors and weapons platforms, helping respond to aerial threats in real time. Defence experts told Reuters that Akashteer would help integrate information from various systems to counter air threats more effectively. Russia’s approval needed for BrahMos sale Any BrahMos export to the UAE would require Russia’s approval because the missile is a joint India-Russia project. One source told Reuters that obtaining Moscow’s consent is unlikely to be a major obstacle given Russia’s close relationship with Abu Dhabi. Experts see strong potential for deal Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) arms transfers programme, told Reuters that both BrahMos and Akashteer could meet the UAE’s defence requirements despite growing international competition in the Gulf arms market. While noting that some previously reported Indian defence export prospects had not materialised, Wezeman said potential sales to the UAE and other Gulf countries remain possible. Growing India-UAE strategic partnership India and the UAE have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years through agreements covering trade, energy and joint military hardware development. According to two Indian government sources cited by Reuters, the proposed weapons sales also reflect evolving regional alignments. India views its deepening defence partnership with the UAE as a counterbalance to the recent defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Pandya said the relationship should also be viewed in the context of broader Gulf geopolitics. “The growing ties must also be understood against the backdrop of wider regional geopolitical dynamics, in particular the competition between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi for regional leadership,” she told Reuters. “Expanded defence ties between India and the UAE essentially serve as a form of strategic signalling, allowing both countries to showcase the strength and depth of their partnerships,” she added. India’s defence exports on the rise Two Indian sources told Reuters that interest in Indian weapons systems increased after last year’s four-day conflict between India and Pakistan, during which India used the BrahMos missile in combat for the first time. Since then, India has signed agreements to export BrahMos missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, according to the sources. Interest has also been shown by Thailand, South Africa, Brazil and Chile, they added. The Philippines remains the only country to have received BrahMos missiles so far, under a deal signed in 2022. India’s defence exports have risen sharply, crossing USD 4 billion in the financial year ending March 2026, compared with just USD 7.26 million in 2013-14, according to government data. According to SIPRI, India is also the world’s second-largest arms importer, accounting for more than 8 per cent of global arms imports. ​