India, UAE discuss BrahMos missile sale as Gulf state diversifies arms suppliers

NEW DELHI: India is in talks with the United Arab Emirates to sell key defence systems, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akashteer air defence system, according to four Indian sources.

The discussions come as the UAE increases arms procurement after the war in the Middle East and seeks to broaden its defence supply base beyond traditional suppliers.

One source with direct knowledge of the matter said the UAE had shown interest in several Indian weapon systems, including BrahMos and Akashteer, adding that the talks were at an initial stage but progressing quickly.

Indian officials and the UAE foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is among the world’s fastest cruise missiles and can be launched from land, sea and air platforms.

Akashteer is a fully automated air defence system developed by India’s state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Indian Army.

The UAE is considering defence purchases from India and other countries after being heavily attacked by Iran during the war. It is also seeking to strengthen its ability to respond to emerging threats and protect the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for its energy exports.

Earlier this year, the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea to promote defence cooperation worth more than $35 billion.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the United States was the largest arms exporter to the Middle East between 2021 and 2025, supplying 54% of the region’s imports. Italy supplied 12% and France 11%.

Before any BrahMos sale to the UAE can be finalised, India would need Russia’s approval because the 290-kilometre missile is jointly developed. One source said this was unlikely to be a major obstacle due to Moscow’s close ties with Abu Dhabi.

The UAE already has the United States MGM-168 ATACMS ballistic missile, which has a maximum range of 300 kilometres, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

For air defence, the UAE operates the United States THAAD and Patriot systems.

Defence experts said Akashteer could help integrate information from other systems to respond to air threats.

Pearl Pandya, South Asia senior analyst at Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, said a diversified supplier base would give the UAE greater strategic autonomy, while closer defence ties with India would not antagonise the United States because both countries remain US allies.

She said the growing India-UAE relationship should also be seen in the context of wider regional competition between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi for leadership.

Indian government sources said the defence talks also reflect New Delhi’s effort to deepen its partnership with the UAE as a counterweight to the recent defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

India and the UAE have strengthened relations in recent years through trade, energy and defence cooperation, including a pact to jointly develop military hardware.

India’s defence exports have also risen sharply, reaching more than $4 billion in the year ending March 2026, compared with $7.26 million in 2013-14, according to the Indian government.

The four-day war between India and Pakistan last year, during which India used weapons systems including BrahMos in combat for the first time, generated interest from other buyers, two Indian sources said.

India has since signed deals to sell BrahMos missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia. It has also received interest from Thailand, South Africa, Brazil and Chile, according to the sources.

The embassies of those countries in New Delhi did not respond to requests for comment.

The Philippines was the first known foreign buyer of the BrahMos missile, signing a deal in 2022.

India remains the world’s second-largest arms buyer, accounting for more than 8% of global arms imports, according to SIPRI.