India Eyes Major Defence Deals With Indonesia as PM Modi’s Visit Focuses on Astra Missiles, BrahMos

The India-Indonesia relationship is taking a giant leap forward. New Delhi is laying the groundwork for a major strategic partnership from high-stakes military defence to democratic infrastructure as Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets ready for his upcoming state visit to Jakarta.

The forthcoming bilateral discussions underline the growing role of India as a key supplier of sophisticated military technologies and public administration solutions across South East Asia.

The Defence Is on the table. The Defence Is on the table.

Jakarta has expressed a strong desire to purchase two of India’s most critical and sophisticated weapon systems for the purpose of modernising its armed forces: Jakarta has expressed a strong desire to purchase two of India’s most critical and sophisticated weapon systems for the purpose of modernising its armed forces:

BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missiles: India has closed a successful export deal with the Philippines and now is eyeing a contract to provide shore-based anti-ship BrahMos missile batteries to the Indonesian Navy. BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missiles: India has closed a successful export deal with the Philippines and now is eyeing a contract to provide shore-based anti-ship BrahMos missile batteries to the Indonesian Navy. The supersonic missile system is intended to provide strong coastal defence and maritime security across Indonesia’s vast archipelago. The supersonic missile system is intended to provide strong coastal defence and maritime security across Indonesia’s vast archipelago.

Astra Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) Missiles The Indonesian Air Force is looking to integrate indigenous Astra air-to-air missiles from India on its existing fleet of fighter jets. Astra Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) Missiles The Indonesian Air Force is looking to integrate indigenous Astra air-to-air missiles from India on its existing fleet of fighter jets. The Astra is renowned for its extreme accuracy in tracking and destroying airborne threats at extended ranges under any weather conditions. The Astra is renowned for its extreme accuracy in tracking and destroying airborne threats at extended ranges under any weather conditions.

 The Indian Election Model Export

The diplomatic tour is a big endorsement of India’s democratic infrastructure apart from the military hardware. In a major administrative collaboration, India has agreed to share its vast election management know-how in helping develop localised, Indonesia-specific Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Jakarta will leverage India's field-tested secure voting technology to make its electoral process more efficient, more secure for voters and less costly logistically as Indonesia holds some of the world's largest single-day elections across thousands of islands.