The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has emerged as India's most sought-after defence export following its combat debut in Operation Sindoor in May 2025, with at least a dozen countries across Europe, West Asia, Latin America, and Africa reportedly expressing interest in acquiring the weapon system, according to a report by The Week. The missile's battlefield performance — including its ability to evade Chinese-origin air defence systems deployed by Pakistan — is credited with accelerating Pakistan's call for a ceasefire.

Combat Performance That Changed the Export Equation

According to the report, at least 15 BrahMos missiles were fired by Indian fighter aircraft during Operation Sindoor, targeting Pakistani military installations without Indian aircraft crossing the international border. Sources quoted in the report said the strikes were executed with precision: 'The accuracy and lethality of the missile strikes were crucial in prompting Pakistan to swiftly call for a ceasefire. BrahMos also demonstrated its ability to evade Chinese-origin air defence systems deployed by Pakistan. That was cue enough for many countries to take keen interest in the missile.'

Operation Sindoor was a military operation conducted by the Indian armed forces against high-value terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Export Deals Gaining Momentum

India had already signed a landmark $375-million agreement with the Philippines in January 2022 to supply three BrahMos missile batteries — the missile's first confirmed export. Following Operation Sindoor, negotiations with prospective buyers accelerated sharply.

Vietnam has concluded a deal estimated at $629 million, while Indonesia has finalised an agreement reportedly valued between $200 million and $300 million. Notably, at least a dozen more countries are now in various stages of interest or negotiation, according to the report.

Origins: From a Gap in India's Missile Arsenal

The BrahMos project traces its origins to 1997, when A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — then heading the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) — identified a critical gap: India's five flagship missile systems (Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Trishul, and Nag) did not include a terrain-hugging cruise missile.

That year, a team of 27 Indian representatives — comprising DRDO scientists, government defence company officials, and private sector delegates — travelled to a military-industrial facility in Reutov, a township outside Moscow. They spent nearly three months evaluating the engine powering Russia's Onyx supersonic cruise missile. Impressed by the technology, New Delhi signed an inter-governmental agreement with Russia in 1998 to establish what would become BrahMos Aerospace.

The programme was fast-tracked after clearance at the highest political level. Within India's defence establishment, it was referred to as the 'JV' — the joint venture between DRDO and Russia's state-owned NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Inside DRDO, it was designated PJ-10.

Production Expansion Across India

Manufacturing facilities are now operational in Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Pilani, with a newly commissioned facility in Lucknow recently beginning production. All four centres currently have the capacity to manufacture at least four missiles per month, with efforts underway to further expand output in response to rising domestic and international demand — which is reportedly growing faster than current production capacity.

What Comes Next for BrahMos

The Indian government envisions equipping every major naval warship and fighter aircraft with BrahMos. Work is also underway on advanced variants, including a version with underwater capability and a miniaturised variant designed to broaden deployment options. The long-term objective, according to the report, is to pair a fully indigenous BrahMos with India's homegrown platforms — including the Tejas and the upcoming LCA Mk 2 — as part of a broader push toward a self-reliant defence ecosystem.