In an effort to increase its maritime security, Indonesia has agreed to buy India’s BrahMos long-range, ramjet-powered supersonic cruise missiles. 

With its more 17,000 islands, Indonesia is the world’s archipelago country and it badly needs missile like BrahMos to defend its territory.

Indonesia has entered an agreement ​with India to procure ‌the BrahMos missile system, its Defence Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Rico Ricardo Sirait ​told Reuters news agency recently.

In 2023, BrahMos, a company co-owned by ⁠the Indian and Russian ​governments, told Reuters it was ​in advanced discussions with Jakarta on a deal worth US$200 million to $350 million.

Rico ​said the agreement was “part of ​the modernisation of military hardware and defence capabilities, ‌especially ⁠in the maritime sector.”

“Indonesia has partnered with India in the procurement of the BrahMos missile system. This is part of our efforts to modernize our weaponry, especially in beefing up our coastal defence,” Rico told the Jakarta Globe news websitevia text. 

According to Rico, the procurement further strengthens Jakarta-New Delhi’s strategic partnership in the defence field. The new system is also expected to “boost deterrence capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty”. 

He declined to confirm the total value of the agreement.

Romeo S Brawner Jr, the........

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