UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi(File Photo)
The indigenous defence ecosystem of India is set to reach landmark heights, as the West Asian country, United Arab Emirates(UAE) is aiming to purchase BrahMos and Akashteer air defence systems. As per the sources, New Delhi and Abu Dhabi are in early stages of talks to seal a defence purchase deal. The deal has paramount strategic significance, as the UAE is considering India, as a credible defence partner amid a steep crisis in West Asia.
The geopolitical wildfire is rigorously engulfing the Gulf region, the rift & faultlines among the countries of the region, is evidently visible. Amidst such an uncertainty and upheaval, Abu Dhabi is looking towards New Delhi, to ensure its national security and regional stability. With this deal, the stakes of India will also rise, as a defence manufacturing and export hub of the region and net security provider.
“UAE has shown interest in a number of our weapon systems including BrahMos and Akashteer. The talks between India and UAE are at initial stages and are progressing fast”, said the sources.
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akashteer air defence systems are the flagship military systems of the country, which are war-tested. Both the air defence systems evidently exhibited their overarching offensive and defensive capabilities during Operation Sindoor. The systems were the “game-changers” during the military conflict, which aided to seal national security and territorial integrity of the country. They successfully intercepted and neutralised the intruding drones and missiles from Pakistan, thus fortifying India’s sovereignty.
Post Operation Sindoor, the global demand for BrahMos has witnessed a sharp rise. If finalised, UAE will be the fourth country to purchase BrahMos after Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. Also, countries such as Thailand, Brazil, South Africa and Chile have expressed interest in purchasing the BrahMos air defence system. This soaring demand for the indigenous weapon systems, places India as a key defence partner of the region and the nation will emerge as the pivotal security partner and geopolitical anchor to ensure collective security, regional stability, strategic deterrence and balance of power.
As the geopolitical wildfire engulfs West Asia and the fissures among the countries in the region is deepening, Abu Dhabi is looking for partners to consolidate its national security. The UAE aims to diversify its defence partners and purchases, by reducing dependency on the United States, as the net security provider of the region. Thus, post the US-Iran conflict and its devastating impact, the UAE is reassessing its security credentials. In this strategic calculus of Abu Dhabi, New Delhi stands as a credible defence partner.
Thus, amidst the escalating crisis in the region, Abu Dhabi has a strategic compulsion to diversify, reinvigorate and strengthen its defence and security apparatus. Infact, during the conflict, the UAE was directly targeted by Iranian drones and other weapon systems. In this direction, New Delhi stands as a firm defence partner. India and the UAE hitherto share deep comprehensive strategic ties. The bilateral bonhomie spreads across trade, business, investment, defence and energy cooperation.
If materialised the latest BrahMos and Akashteer can herald a new chapter in India-UAE ties and can catalyse both nations as key partners to ensure peace, security and freedom of navigation in critical chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, which are being weaponised amidst great power competition. Apparently, the majority of the energy and other trade of India passes through this critical waterway.
As mentioned, BrahMos and Akashteer are war-tested and have stellar operational competitiveness. BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is regarded as the world’s fastest operational supersonic cruise missile.
Akashteer is an indigenously developed automated air defence command and control system. It is a key layer in India’s integrated air defence network.
In the Financial Year 2025-26, India’s defence production has reached record heights at Rs. 1.78 lakh crore. It is a 15.6 per cent growth, compared to previous fiscal year when the defence production was at Rs. 1.54 lakh crore. Also, it is a stellar increase of 110 per cent compared to 2020-21, when the defence production numbers were at Rs. 84,643 crore. And it is a four times increase compared to 2013-14, when the indigenous production was at Rs. 43,746 crore.
The defence exports are also at an all-time high by reaching the record mark of USD 4 billion as of March 2026. It is a stark increase from USD 7.26 million exports in 2013-14. The growing numbers reflect the trust in India as a credible defence manufacturing and export powerhouse. Post Operation Sindoor, the demand for home-grown weapon systems have spiked drastically.
