Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 26 July 2025 highlighted the world's growing confidence in India's defence equipment and technology, pointing to the landmark agreement on BrahMos and Astra missiles signed during his visit to Indonesia earlier this month. Speaking on the 136th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi framed the deals as evidence of India's rising stature in global defence exports and political partnerships.

The Indonesia Defence Agreements

India and Indonesia signed an agreement for the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Indonesian military, along with additional batteries of the system. Indonesia is also set to import India's indigenously developed Astra air-to-air missiles — a beyond-visual-range missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), designed to track and destroy highly manoeuvrable enemy aircraft. The two nations additionally finalised a framework for maritime safety and security cooperation.

'Whether it is defence production, exports or political cooperation with the friendly nations, India is continuously scaling new heights,' Modi said. 'At the beginning of this month, I was in Indonesia, where a major agreement was signed for BrahMos and Astra missiles. The world's confidence is increasing towards India's defence equipment and technology.'

Kargil Vijay Diwas Tribute

The broadcast also marked Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on 26 July to commemorate India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War. Modi paid tribute to the soldiers who fought in the conflict, calling the date one that 'fills us with pride and reminds us of the extraordinary courage of our brave soldiers.'

'The towering peaks of Kargil, harsh weather, the challenges posed by the enemy — our soldiers faced every such circumstance, yet their morale was greater than any challenge. They sacrificed everything for protecting the motherland,' he said. Modi also highlighted a special motorcycle expedition — 'Saurya Vijay Yatra' — that began on 14 July from Delhi's National War Memorial and is set to conclude at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, under the theme 'One ride, one nation, one salute.'

New Defence Inductions and Milestones

Modi cited several recent milestones in India's indigenous defence build-up. He highlighted the induction of INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy, a warship designed and manufactured in India with more than 75 per cent indigenous content, calling it 'a symbol of the growing strength of Atmanirbhar Bharat.'

He also referenced the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120), a precision-guided artillery rocket system developed by DRDO with a maximum strike range of approximately 120 kilometres and a validated minimum range of 60 kilometres. Additionally, he noted the successful flight test of the Khusha Missile, crediting the achievements to 'the collective hardwork of our scientists and engineers.'

Broader Strategic Context

India's defence exports have grown substantially over the past decade, with the government setting a target of ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029. The BrahMos deal with Indonesia — the first such export of the supersonic cruise missile to a Southeast Asian nation — is widely seen as a strategic signal in the Indo-Pacific. This comes amid heightened maritime competition in the region, where India has been deepening defence ties with ASEAN partners. The Astra missile export marks another first for India's domestic aerospace sector, reinforcing the DRDO's commercial viability alongside its strategic mandate.

As India approaches the 26th anniversary of the Kargil victory, Modi's address wove together the themes of military sacrifice and technological self-reliance — a framing that underscores the government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' defence narrative heading into a period of active procurement decisions across the region.