Vietnam has officially signed a $629 million contract with India to acquire BrahMos Block-III supersonic cruise missiles, a move that significantly strengthens its coastal defence posture in the South China Sea amid rising Chinese militarisation.

The deal, confirmed at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, positions Vietnam as the second Southeast Asian operator of BrahMos after the Philippines.

Vietnam has become the latest Southeast Asian nation to procure the BrahMos missile system, joining the Philippines as confirmed operators, with Indonesia also nearing a similar agreement. The contract, valued at approximately ₹60 billion ($629 million), was signed in March and publicly acknowledged by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Vietnam is expected to receive six coastal batteries, complete with integrated logistics support, operator training, and technical instruction for maintenance personnel, making this one of its largest defence acquisitions in recent years.

The BrahMos Block 3 missile is a two-stage, solid-fuelled supersonic cruise missile capable of speeds between Mach 2.8 and Mach 3.0. It carries a warhead of up to 300 kilograms and has a strike range of 290–300 kilometres.

It features sea-skimming flight capability as low as 10 metres above sea level and steep-dive terminal attack modes, making it effective against both land and sea targets. It is a fire-and-forget weapon equipped with multiple target acquisition sensors to resist jamming.

Vietnam’s acquisition focuses on land-based coastal batteries, though Hanoi has expressed long-term interest in air-launched variants.

The strategic significance of this deal lies in the contested South China Sea. Almost all Chinese-occupied islands and bases in the region fall within BrahMos range if launched from Vietnamese-held positions.

This mirrors the Philippines’ deployment of BrahMos batteries, which similarly cover Chinese-occupied islands claimed by Manila. Taiwan, though not a BrahMos operator, maintains equivalent systems to defend its isolated holdings.

The disparity remains stark: while ASEAN claimants have avoided heavy militarisation of their islands, satellite imagery shows Chinese-occupied features bristling with PLAN missile systems and air defences.

Vietnam’s decision is rooted in its difficult history with China. The 1979 border war and the 1988 Spratly Islands clash, in which 64 Vietnamese soldiers were killed by the PLA Navy, remain bitter memories.

Since 2022, India and Vietnam have drawn closer in defence cooperation, united by shared concerns over Chinese assertiveness. The BrahMos deal underscores Vietnam’s determination to modernise its maritime deterrence and diversify defence suppliers beyond Russia, while India consolidates its role as a credible security partner in the Indo-Pacific.

The regional picture is further complicated by Japan’s growing involvement. In May, Japan and the Philippines conducted a joint live-fire exercise off Luzon, with a Japanese coastal defence unit firing two Type 88 anti-ship missiles at a decommissioned Philippine corvette.

This test highlighted the emerging network of Indo-Pacific middle powers arming themselves independently to raise the costs of Chinese coercion, even as ASEAN struggles to forge a collective response.

India’s export of BrahMos missiles represents a flagship success of its “Make in India” program, showcasing indigenous defence capabilities while reinforcing strategic partnerships.

For Vietnam, the acquisition is a critical step in securing its long coastline and offshore interests against Chinese expansionism.

For India, it signals growing strategic autonomy and influence in Southeast Asia, with BrahMos increasingly positioned as the preferred coastal defence solution in the region.

Agencies