The Indian government is currently in negotiations with the United Arab Emirates over the possible sale of several of its top-tier defense weapons, including the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile, according to four Indian sources who spoke with Reuters.
These previously unreported discussions also include the potential transfer of India’s Akashteer air defense system, according to two sources with firsthand knowledge of the matter.
“UAE has shown interest for a number of our weapon systems including BrahMos and Akashteer. The talks between India and UAE are at initial stages and are progressing fast,” a third source with direct knowledge told Reuters.
Neither Indian officials nor the UAE foreign ministry responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The BrahMos missile was developed jointly by India and Russia and ranks among the fastest cruise missiles in the world, capable of being launched from land, sea, or air. The Akashteer system is a fully automated air defense platform created by India’s state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd in partnership with the Indian Army.
The UAE is exploring defense purchases from India and other nations after sustaining heavy attacks from Iran during the recent war in the region. The Gulf nation is also working to bolster its ability to defend the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for its energy exports.
Earlier this year, the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea for defense cooperation valued at more than $35 billion.
“A diversified supplier base gives the UAE more strategic autonomy, and closer ties with India have the added benefit of not antagonising the U.S. as the countries remain allies,” said Pearl Pandya, South Asia senior analyst at Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a conflict monitoring organization.
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, known as SIPRI, shows that between 2021 and 2025, the United States was the largest supplier of arms to the Middle East, accounting for 54% of the region’s imports. Italy came in second at 12%, followed by France at 11%.
Before any BrahMos sale to the UAE can be finalized, India would need approval from Russia, given the missile’s joint development origins. One source indicated this is not expected to be a significant obstacle, pointing to the strong relationship between Moscow and Abu Dhabi.
Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher in SIPRI’s arms transfers division, said both the BrahMos and Akashteer systems could meet the UAE’s defense needs, even as competition among international arms sellers for Gulf state contracts continues to grow.
The UAE already operates the U.S.-made MGM-168 ATACMS ballistic missile, which has a maximum range of 300 kilometers, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. For air defense, the country currently uses the advanced U.S. THAAD and Patriot systems. Defense experts noted that Akashteer would help integrate data from multiple sources to counter aerial threats.
Stronger ties between India and the UAE in recent years have produced a wave of agreements covering trade, energy, and joint military hardware development. The ongoing weapons talks are seen as further evidence of shifting regional alliances, with two Indian government sources saying India views its deepening partnership with the UAE as a strategic counterweight to a recent defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
“The growing ties must also be understood against the backdrop of wider regional geopolitical dynamics, in particular the competition between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi for regional leadership,” Pandya said. “Expanded defence ties between India and the UAE essentially serve as a form of strategic signalling, allowing both countries to showcase the strength and depth of their partnerships,” she added.
Interest in the BrahMos missile surged after India deployed it in combat for the first time during last year’s four-day war with Pakistan, according to two of the Indian sources. Since then, India has finalized deals to sell the BrahMos to Vietnam and Indonesia, and has received expressions of interest from Thailand, South Africa, Brazil, and Chile. Embassies for those countries in New Delhi did not respond to requests for comment.
Prior to these recent deals, the only export sale of the BrahMos had been to the Philippines in 2022.
India’s overall defense exports have climbed dramatically, surpassing $4 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2026, up from just $7.26 million in 2013-14, according to the Indian government. India also remains the world’s second-largest importer of arms, responsible for more than 8% of global arms purchases, per SIPRI data.
