Stories
Beyond BrahMos: How India is Using Defense Exports as Strategic Statecraft
F
Firstpost•09-10-2026, 17:15
Beyond BrahMos: How India is Using Defense Exports as Strategic Statecraft
- •India's defense exports surged to Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26, marking a 63 percent increase in a single year and expanding its reach to over 80 countries.
- •Strategic arms sales, such as BrahMos missiles to Southeast Asian nations facing maritime disputes with Beijing, act as instruments of proxy balancing and deterrence.
- •Comprehensive packages sent to Armenia in the Caucasus counter rival alignments involving Turkey and Pakistan while establishing vital trade corridors.
- •Supplying patrol vessels, aircraft, and radars to Indian Ocean island states reinforces New Delhi's role as the region's primary security provider.
- •While facing challenges like Russian dependence on joint ventures and delivery reliability, India's growing arms exports reflect a new model of strategic autonomy through supply chains.
Key Questions Answered
The Philippines was the first foreign buyer to sign a deal for the BrahMos missile in 2022, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia, which finalized its agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jakarta in July 2026.
India's defence exports reached Rs 38,424 crore, which is approximately $4.11 billion, marking a single-year increase of nearly 63 percent according to the Ministry of Defence.
Armenia has acquired a comprehensive package of Indian military systems, including Akash surface-to-air missiles, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, Swathi weapon-locating radars, and ATAGS howitzers.
