BrahMos missile UAE talks are under way as India seeks to sell some of its flagship defence systems to Abu Dhabi, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akashteer air defence system, according to four Indian sources cited by Reuters.
The discussions are still at an initial stage, but one source with direct knowledge of the matter said they were “progressing fast”. Indian officials and the UAE foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The potential India UAE defence deal comes as the Gulf state steps up arms procurement following the recent war in the Middle East. For New Delhi, a BrahMos missile sale to the UAE would mark another step in its effort to position India as a major defence exporter rather than primarily an arms importer.
BrahMos Missile UAE Talks Include Akashteer System
The talks reportedly include not only BrahMos but also Akashteer, India’s automated air defence control and reporting system. The system was developed by India’s state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Indian Army, and is designed to coordinate air defence responses in real time. India’s Press Information Bureau has described Akashteer as a fully indigenous automated air defence system.
BrahMos is jointly developed by India and Russia and is among the world’s fastest cruise missiles. BrahMos Aerospace says the missile has a range of up to 290 km and flies at supersonic speed throughout its flight, allowing shorter engagement time.
Because BrahMos is a joint India-Russia system, any export deal would require Russian approval. Reuters reported, however, that approval was not expected to be a major obstacle.
India Defence Exports Gain Momentum
A UAE deal would add to India’s growing BrahMos export profile. India signed its first BrahMos export contract with the Philippines in 2022, covering a shore-based anti-ship missile system.
India has since signed a BrahMos deal with Vietnam and is in the final stages of a similar deal with Indonesia, according to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
Reuters reported that India’s defence exports rose to more than $4 billion in the year ending March 2026, compared with $7.26 million in 2013-14. That growth forms part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wider push to expand domestic defence production and reduce dependence on imported systems.
UAE Arms Procurement And Regional Signalling
The possible sale also reflects deepening India-UAE defence ties. In January, the two countries pledged to form a strategic defence partnership while also setting a target to double bilateral trade to $200 billion within six years.
In May, India and the UAE agreed on a framework for a strategic defence partnership during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UAE, according to Reuters.
For the UAE, interest in BrahMos and Akashteer would fit a broader effort to diversify defence suppliers and strengthen deterrence at a time of heightened regional uncertainty. For India, the talks offer both commercial and strategic value: they could expand the market for Indian-made weapons while deepening ties with a key Gulf partner.
No deal has yet been announced, and neither government has publicly confirmed the negotiations. Until an official statement is issued, the reported BrahMos missile UAE talks remain an early-stage defence negotiation rather than a concluded sale.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 23, 2026
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