On Tuesday, India agreed to provide BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra air-to-air missiles to Indonesia, marking a major deepening of defence cooperation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Prabowo Subianto met to strengthen bilateral ties and explore ways to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
The two parties signed nearly a dozen agreements to substantially strengthen bilateral cooperation across various fields, including critical minerals, technology, food security, pharmaceuticals, and maritime security.
India and Indonesia have Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2018, which has been significantly expanded in July 2026 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jakarta to meet President Prabowo Subianto.
Indonesia will be the first importer country of the Astra air to air missile. The weapons deal will bolster Indonesia's defensive posture.
The Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile is a radar-guided system with an approximate reach of 100 km and is already deployed by both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile capable of flying at speeds of up to Mach 3, was co-developed by India and Russia. Demonstrating its combat effectiveness during Operation Sindoor, the missile is expected to enhance Indonesia’s ability to deter and defend against naval threats.
The two countries have agreed to enhance maritime cooperation, aiming to improve maritime domain awareness and uphold freedom of navigation at sea.
Both New Delhi and Jakarta share concerns over China’s assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific region.
The discussions ended with 20 outcomes, among them collaboration on the BrahMos missile system, an agreement on joint work in air-to-air missiles, and a memorandum of understanding focused on cooperation in minerals and steel supply chain technology.
India and Indonesia collaborate on an wide range of military initiatives, and their bilateral trade reached $29.4 billion in the 2023–24 fiscal year.