With the BrahMos missiles proving a success in the Indian Tri-Services, India plans to provide Vietnam with the cruise missiles.
Yes! India is being an arms EXPORTER!
This is being looked as a bid to take on China’s increasing hegemony in South Asia.
Know more about the BrahMos missile here.
Here is how the story of the deal goes:
- Since 2008 India has supplied Vietnam with some 5,000 spare parts for its Soviet Petya-class frigates and provided assistance in overhauling the Southeast Asian nation’s MiG-21 fighters and T-55 tanks.
- China and Vietnam are locked in a tense face-off over maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. The matter is pending in the United Nations for a final decision.
- India has stated a target of achieving a $100 billion trade with the ASEAN – all located east of India – by 2015 and needs free shipping rights.
- Vietnam had been eyeing the missile for over five years now but the UPA government had been reluctant to give the nod fearing Chinese objections.
- In October 2014 India pledged to supply Vietnam with four locally built offshore patrol vessels under a USD 100 million credit line.
- While the current BrahMos launch vehicles are surface and aircraft based, India is testing a submarine-launched version that could conceivably be used in Vietnam’s Kilo-class submarines
- Highly placed defence sources said both PM Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar were in favour of exporting the missile system to Vietnam.
- Additionally, there were concerns from China – a maritime rival with both India and Vietnam – that Indian arms sales would upset the balance of power in the South China Sea.
- However if the Vietnam deal goes through, it will be a major win for the Indian arms industry as in the past few years India has been making a push as a major arms exporter.
- For Vietnam, it would also be a major boost to their ability to take on modern surface combatants as Hanoi looks to expand its maritime capabilities against an ever-expanding Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
- There is also a prospect of India launching Vietnam’s satellites into space and this is among the long list of items identified as ‘expansion of bilateral relations’.
- A 15-20 member Indian defence delegation led by DM Manohar Parrikar to Vietnam will further boost the joint development and production of a range of military equipment such as small arms, missile, and naval systems as well as assorted ammunition.
