India & Indonesia inch closer to BrahMos deal at defence dialogue, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India and Indonesia progressed discussions on the procurement of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile during the third India-Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gifted a model of the BrahMos missile to his Indonesian counterpart Siafrie Sjamsoeddin, signifying strengthened defence cooperation.
• If finalized, Indonesia will be the second country after the Philippines to procure the BrahMos weapon system from India.
• Discussions also covered collaboration in defence medicine and pharmaceuticals, including joint research and technology transfer.

Detailed Insights:

• The BrahMos missile system is a joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
• The missile has been operational in all three Indian defence services and was used during Operation Sindoor.
• BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd aims to export the missile system to several countries, including South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt.
• Upgrades are underway to increase the range of the BrahMos missiles to 500 km for land attacks and 400 km for ship attacks, along with electronic counter-counter measures.
• Both sides emphasized maintaining a free, open, peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, guided by international law and respect for sovereignty.
• Indonesia expressed appreciation for India’s proposal to establish a Joint Defence Industry Cooperation Committee.
• Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to a just and lasting peace in Palestine, with Indonesia ready to contribute peacekeeping personnel to Gaza under a UN Mandate.

Key Concepts Involved:

• DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation): India's premier defence research and development agency.
• Indo-Pacific: A geopolitical region encompassing the Indian and Pacific Oceans, emphasizing interconnectedness and shared interests.
• UN Mandate: A directive from the United Nations authorizing specific actions, often related to peacekeeping or humanitarian efforts.