India and the United Arab Emirates are holding talks over a possible arms deal that could see Abu Dhabi buy several of India’s most advanced weapons systems, Reuters reported. The systems under consideration include the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akash air defense system. The discussions are still at an early stage, but officials described them as moving forward.
BrahMos, developed jointly by India and Russia, is regarded as one of the world’s fastest cruise missiles and can be launched from land, air, or sea. Any export deal for it would also need Moscow’s approval. Another system being examined is Akash, developed by Bharat Electronics in cooperation with the Indian Army.
According to the report, the UAE wants to strengthen its defenses against regional threats and protect the Strait of Hormuz amid security developments in the Middle East. Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi signed a security memorandum of understanding with South Korea, and the expansion of purchases from India and other countries is seen as part of an effort to diversify its arms suppliers.
Indian government sources said interest in Indian weapons has grown since India used BrahMos missiles for the first time during last year’s conflict with Pakistan. Since then, India has signed additional export deals and received inquiries from more countries around the world.
