Vietnam is edging closer to becoming the next international customer for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with negotiations now entering their final phase. BrahMos Aerospace Chief Jaiteerth Joshi said only a few procedural approvals remain before the agreement can be formally concluded, signaling significant progress in India's defence export ambitions.

Speaking in Nagpur after the dispatch of the 100th indigenous booster manufactured by Solar Industries India Ltd for the BrahMos programme, Joshi noted that discussions with Vietnam are nearing completion. He added that talks are also underway with several other countries across different regions, although details will be disclosed only after receiving the necessary government clearances. The development comes amid strengthening strategic ties between India and Vietnam in the Indo-Pacific. Earlier this year, former Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, P. Kumaran, reaffirmed Vietnam’s importance as a key regional partner and said discussions on various defence platforms, including the BrahMos missile, continue under the India-Vietnam Joint Vision Statement for Defence Partnership 2030.

Joshi also highlighted the strides made in reducing production costs and increasing indigenous content within the BrahMos programme. Through extensive value-engineering efforts over the past 18 months, raw material costs have been reduced by around 24 percent, while manufacturing and component expenses have fallen by nearly 10 percent. These measures are expected to lower the overall cost of Indian-made components by approximately 20 percent over the next one to two years. The company is focusing on the development of advanced variants such as BrahMos-NG and extended-range versions. Research is also being carried out on lighter missile designs using composite materials, with final specifications to be determined after design validation and simulation studies are completed.

Commenting on the missile’s operational capabilities, Joshi said BrahMos recently underwent what he described as a real-world combat evaluation during Operation Sindoor. He noted that the missile, developed jointly with support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has evolved into a unique supersonic weapon system known for its speed, accuracy and reliability. The BrahMos Aerospace chief further revealed that discussions are ongoing with Russia regarding increased production requirements. According to him, Russia is looking to expand output in response to current strategic needs, and consultations between the partners are continuing.

The ceremony in Nagpur also marked a major milestone in India’s defence manufacturing journey. The 100th indigenous booster delivered for the programme represents a component that was previously sourced from Russia but is now produced domestically. Solar Industries India Ltd has played a key role in this transition and has also completed trials related to indigenous warheads. Once the qualification process is finalized, imported warheads are expected to be replaced by locally manufactured alternatives.

BrahMos, a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, is named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. The two-stage supersonic cruise missile can be launched from land, sea, air and sub-sea platforms. Powered initially by a solid-fuel booster and later by a liquid-fuel ramjet engine, it can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.8.

Designed on the fire-and-forget principle, the missile can strike both land and maritime targets with high precision. Its combination of speed, maneuverability and low-altitude terminal flight profile makes it one of the most formidable cruise missile systems in service today. With growing international interest and expanding indigenous production capabilities, BrahMos is expected to remain a cornerstone of India's defence export strategy in the years ahead.