Brahmos launched from the INS Kolkata during TROPEX-2015
Amidst a tense military stand-off with Chinese troops at the Dolam tri-junction in Bhutan, India has quietly made history on a crucial new front against China: a deal has finally reportedly been struck to give Vietnam, one of Beijing’s arch-adversaries in the region, the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile. Vietnamese reports today appeared to confirm the purchase (UPDATE: the report later altered its headline to play down the BrahMos point). Indian news reports followed up too, but at the time this report was filed, word was still awaited from the Indian Ministry of Defence, which administers one half of the India-Russia BrahMos Corp. joint venture headquartered in New Delhi. Sources said the deal had reached ‘finality’, but provided no further specifics.
There remains ambiguity over whether Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry has provided a confirmation first and then slowed down.
Vietnam foreign ministry spox's answer on question seeking confirmation of procurement of brahmos missile from India https://t.co/JdzWEwqX0bhttp://pic.twitter.com/Q0DPINiekK
— Devirupa Mitra (@DevirupaM) August 18, 2017
What appears certain is that the decks are clear. For a country whose every move has made Beijing bristle, Vietnam’s acquisition of BrahMos missiles is an overtly provocative act, given that sea denial is explicitly what the BrahMos weapon system is really about. Analysts see India’s move as a strategic investment in a rising counter-power to China in the region — the BrahMos missiles follow deals for naval vessels to Vietnam and the possibility of Akash SAM systems following suit. Last year, India’s then Defence Minister called upon private Indian firms to help upgrade Vietnam’s battle tank electronics and to help fit the country’s Mi-8/17s fleet with software-defined radios.
That China consistently arms India’s other rival neighbour Pakistan, a known sponsor and haven for terrorism, has only eased the path towards what was always going to be a controversial decision for India. Sensitivities about being counted as an exporter of lethal weapons in a region rife with proliferation has always stalled decisions. That the Vietnam deal could be closed suggests not just unprecedented political re-alignment, but also a bit of a magical process.
Other countries known to be interested in the BrahMos missile include Malaysia and Brazil. India and Russia are also developing the BrahMos NG, a smaller version of the missile facilitating a three-missile loadout option, and a hypersonic BrahMos-II. The submarine-launched version of the BrahMos is currently under test too, though it will see integration first only on the boats India builds under Project 75(I).
While Russia builds the engine and seeker, India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) builds the guidance system and fire control system on the BrahMos. The export sale to Vietnam makes history for another crucial reason — it is India’s first export of a major offensive weapon system to another country. It is also a major and long belated victory for BrahMos Corp. which has fought for over a decade to supply its product to foreign customers.
While clarity is awaited on the numbers and BrahMos variant being supplied to Vietnam, the missile system is undergoing major changes in India. Entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) has also allowed India to open up the BrahMos’s range capabilities, with a final system that will be able to hit targets out to just under 1,000 km, formidable specifications for a supersonic weapon system. On another front, the air-launched BrahMos-A is all set for its first test firing from a modified Indian Air Force Su-30 MKI in a matter of days.
UPDATE @ 16:37: The Indian Foreign Ministy has pointed to Vietnamese government clarifications on the report.
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