Operating under the Ministry of Defence, BDL is the primary manufacturer and integrator of the BrahMos missile system, while BEL has jointly developed Akashteer with the Indian Army.
According to Reuters, discussions between India and the UAE are at an early stage but are progressing quickly. Sources told the news agency that the Gulf nation has expressed interest in multiple Indian weapon systems, including BrahMos and Akashteer, as it looks to strengthen its defence capabilities following the recent conflict in the Middle East.
BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is among the world’s fastest cruise missiles and can be launched from land, sea and air platforms. Akashteer, meanwhile, is a fully automated air defence command-and-control system designed to integrate inputs from multiple sensors and weapons to counter aerial threats.
The report added that India’s successful deployment of systems such as BrahMos during last year’s conflict with Pakistan has boosted international interest in indigenous defence equipment. India has already signed BrahMos export agreements with the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, while several other countries have reportedly expressed interest.
The potential UAE deal would mark another milestone in India’s defence export push, which saw overseas defence sales rise to more than $4 billion in FY26, according to government data.
