India made a significant move to promote its renowned supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos, at the recently concluded World Defence Show hosted by Saudi Arabia.
With India aiming to expand its defence exports, speculations are rife that BrahMos might be offered to the Saudi kingdom, marking a potential milestone in defence cooperation between the two nations.
Amidst keen interest from global stakeholders, reports emerged from local Russian media, purportedly citing an official from the BrahMos Aerospace joint venture, suggesting discussions with Saudi Arabia for a prospective sale of the supersonic cruise missile.
Praveen Pathak, Director of Exports at BrahMos Aerospace, expressed optimism during media interactions on the sidelines of the defence show, stating, “We expect several high-level meetings, and we hope that our joint product will be promoted in these regions.
A great deal of interest has been shown here [in Saudi Arabia], and we have previously met with Saudi delegations at other exhibitions. We are very hopeful for these negotiations.”
The participation of key Indian dignitaries further underscored India’s commitment to bolstering defence ties and advancing its exports in the Middle East region.
Union Minister of State for Defence & Tourism, Ajay Bhatt, India’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, and Additional Secretary Anurag Bajpai were present at the BrahMos pavilion, highlighting India’s proactive stance in exploring opportunities for collaboration and partnership in defence technology.
While official statements from the Indian government or the Saudi kingdom are awaited, reports in both Russian and Indian media hint at the potential export of BrahMos to not just Saudi Arabia but also to Southeast Asian and other Middle Eastern countries.
This strategic move reflects India’s ambition to leverage its indigenous defence capabilities and forge stronger defence partnerships on the global stage.
The promotion of BrahMos at the World Defence Show underscores its status as a poster child of India’s defence exports and highlights its reputation as a formidable supersonic cruise missile in the international market. As discussions progress, the potential export of BrahMos to Saudi Arabia holds the promise of fostering closer defence ties and contributing to regional security and stability.
