The Gulf nation is ramping up arms purchases in the aftermath of the Middle East conflict
India is in initial talks with the United Arab Emirates for the potential sale of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Reuters reports.
The Gulf nation is ramping up weapons purchases in the aftermath of the Middle East conflict and amid concerns about regional stability.
The negotiations also include the potential purchase of India’s Akashteer air defense system, Reuters reports, citing two sources.
“The talks between India and UAE are at initial stages and are progressing fast,” the report quoted a third source as saying.
BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is among the world’s fastest cruise missiles and has land, sea, and air variants. The missile, with speeds reaching up to Mach 3, was employed with lethal effectiveness against Pakistani targets last year by Indian forces.
Akashteer is a fully automated air defense system developed by state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Indian Army.
The report said India requires Russia’s approval for the sale of the missile, but given Moscow’s close ties to Abu Dhabi, it should be approved, a senior aide at the think tank SIPRI said.
The UAE came under heavy attack during the Middle East conflict triggered by the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The country also wants enhanced security for its vessels that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint controlled by Iran.
The US remains the biggest arms exporter to the Middle East but the Iran war has exposed strains in Washington’s commitment to defend allies in the region.
Indian defense exports have risen to over $4 billion in the year ending March 2026, from just $7.26 million in 2013-14.
The Philippines was the first foreign customer of BrahMos, signing a $375 million contract in 2022. India also has signed a deal with Vietnam for the missiles, and is in talks with Indonesia
BrahMos Aerospace reported record revenue growth of 48.6% in 2025-26.
