The BrahMos missile was once a product of Indian and Russian hands working together. Now the story may come full circle, with Moscow potentially turning into a buyer of the very weapon. BrahMos Aerospace has stated plainly that the moment an order arrives from Russia, the company is ready to deliver. In other words, a weapon that India has held up as a centrepiece of its military strength could soon find a place in the arsenals of the Russian army and navy.
What the Company's MD Said
The signal came from Alexander Maksichev, Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace, who spoke to the Russian news agency TASS on the sidelines of the international naval exhibition 'Fleet-2026'. He said, 'If demand for this comes from Russia, we are ready to fulfil the order. This missile could be for the navy or for the Russian army. We have sufficient production capacity and we understand what Russia needs.'
A Weapon Born of a Shared Partnership
BrahMos is a joint project of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya rocket design bureau — the same Russian outfit that also builds the Oniks anti-ship cruise missile. The two countries set up BrahMos Aerospace in 1995. Even its name carries both nations within it, drawn from India's Brahmaputra and Russia's Moskva rivers. Today it ranks among the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world. Should Russia place an order, there is a real possibility it would deploy the missile in Ukraine against American-supplied weaponry.
Its Power Was on Show in Operation Sindoor
The missile's reach and precision drew global attention after India used it against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor last year. One of its biggest strengths is its flexibility — it can be launched from land, air and sea alike. The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy already field it.
Growing Demand Abroad
The Philippines became the first foreign customer for BrahMos, signing a $375 million (37.5 करोड़ डॉलर) deal in 2022. The first consignment arrived in April 2024 and the second in April 2025. Under the agreement, the Philippines is receiving three batteries with a 189 km range, along with operator training and logistic support. This month, India confirmed it will also supply BrahMos to Vietnam. Meanwhile, during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a senior Indian defence official revealed that talks with Indonesia have entered their final stage.
