India-UAE Defence Talks: BrahMos and Akashteer Sales Under Discussion

India is in talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to sell some of its flagship defence systems, according to four Indian sources cited by Reuters. The discussions, which have not been previously reported, include the potential sale of the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos and India's automated air-defence command-and-control system, Akashteer, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The talks are at an initial stage but progressing fast, said a third source. “The UAE has shown interest for a number of our weapon systems, including BrahMos and Akashteer,” the source said. Indian officials and the UAE foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment, as reported by Dawn.

The UAE is stepping up arms procurement following the war in the Middle East, when it was heavily attacked by Iran. It also needs to protect the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial conduit for its energy exports. This context, reported by Dawn, underscores the UAE's motivation to enhance its ability to respond to emerging threats.

BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is among the world's fastest cruise missiles, capable of launching from land, sea, and air, and traveling up to three times the speed of sound. Akashteer is a fully automated air defence system developed by India's state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Indian Army, as described by Dawn.

Coverage Comparison

The South China Morning Post frames the potential sale as a significant step in India's push to become a serious arms exporter. Analysts say a UAE order would carry symbolic and strategic weight for India as it tries to shift from being one of the world's biggest arms buyers to a more serious exporter of weapons and defence equipment. The report quotes A.B. Shivane, a former lieutenant general in the Indian army, who called the deal "a big confidence booster."

Dawn's coverage emphasises the UAE's need to enhance its ability to respond to emerging threats, attributing the causal driver to the aftermath of the Middle East war. It also notes that the UAE has experience with other suppliers, including the US, which was the biggest exporter of arms to the Middle East between 2021 and 2025, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Both outlets agree that no deal has been signed and discussions remain in the early stages, but a sale would be strategically significant for both nations.

Key Claims

  • Defence systems under discussion: India is in talks with the UAE to sell defence systems, including the BrahMos missile and Akashteer air defence system, as reported by both Dawn and the South China Morning Post, citing Reuters.
  • UAE's procurement motivation: The UAE is stepping up arms procurement after the war in the Middle East, a claim carried by Dawn.
  • Russia's approval required: India would require Russia's approval for a BrahMos sale, as reported by Dawn, since the missile is jointly developed.
  • UAE's existing supplier relationships: The UAE has experience with other suppliers, including the US, according to Dawn, citing SIPRI data.
  • India's arms export ambitions: A potential sale of BrahMos missiles could mark a significant step in India's push to become a serious arms exporter, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
  • Wider basket of Indian equipment: The UAE is interested in a wider basket of Indian equipment, including Akash surface-to-air missiles and Pinaka rocket systems, according to the South China Morning Post, citing A.B. Shivane.
  • BrahMos capabilities: BrahMos is a supersonic precision cruise missile that can launch from land, sea, and air, as reported by both outlets.

Perspectives

India: The Indian government, through unnamed sources, views the talks as an opportunity to strengthen ties with a key Gulf partner and showcase its defence systems as combat-proven, according to the South China Morning Post.

UAE: The UAE's interest in diversifying its supplier base is seen as a move toward greater strategic autonomy, with the added benefit of not antagonising the US, as noted by analyst Pearl Pandya in Dawn's report.

Russia: While not directly quoted, Russia's role as a partner in the BrahMos programme means any sale would require Moscow's approval, a factor reported by Dawn.