Operation Sindoor, conducted in May, has sent tremors across the South Asian defence landscape. The operation saw direct military engagements between India and Pakistan.
Advanced military equipment was utilized in Operation Sindoor. The most-talked-about equipment used was India’s BrahMos missiles and Rafale Jet Fighter Aircraft, and Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C jet fighter. This was not only a demonstration of both countries’ military capabilities but also of the growing military tension within the region. Twenty-six civilians were killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, after which India retaliated through precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Which Muslim country is assembling these deadly weapons?
As per the latest updates, the World’s largest muslim country, Indonesia, is planning to acquire all three weapons systems, BrahMos missiles, J-10C and PL-15 missiles, as reported by The EurAsian Times. It is interesting to note that an Asian nation is not only purchasing Rafale aircraft, which India employed during their confrontation, but also intends to procure BrahMos missiles and J-10C and PL15 type missiles.
How much is the deal for these advanced weapons worth?
The Russian-origin S-400 and BrahMos missiles received accolades from India, while Pakistan lavished praise on its J-10C jets and PL-15 missiles, which are supplied by China. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ramped up efforts to modernise the Indonesian Armed Forces since taking office in October 2024. The Government plans to develop a “minimum essential force(MEF)” as part of Prabowo’s extensive approach to increasing the effectiveness of Indonesia’s military.
The Government seeks to strengthen Indonesia’s air and naval power, while ensuring that it is not reliant on any one nation for its military requirements. Due to this reason, Indonesia is acquiring weaponry from several countries, including France and China. Furthermore, the Government has selected equipment based on proven performance in combat.
For instance, the EurAsian Times reports indicate that Indonesia is negotiating with India to finalise a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile deal for $450 million. The two sides have been discussing this deal for a while. India successfully used the BrahMos missile against Pakistan. This increased the interest in buying them. During Operation Sindoor, India reportedly fired 15 to 19 BrahMos missiles at Pakistan, which were not intercepted by Pakistan, as per several media reports.
Where will these weapons be deployed in the new country?
Discussions regarding a possible purchase of the BrahMos cruise missile between India and Indonesia are close to being concluded. However, both India and Russia need to provide their consent before this transaction can take place with a third party (Indonesia). Until Russia approves this sale, which is expected shortly, the contract will not be finalised. If Russia does give their approval, Indonesia will become the second nation after the Philippines to acquire the BrahMos.
The speculation follows a report that suggested India could provide Indonesia up to $450 million in credit to purchase BrahMos missiles. Reportedly, India has been contemplating this line of credit for quite some time. The BrahMos missile is a supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from various platforms, including submarines, ships, aircraft, and ground-based systems. In addition, BrahMos forms a key component of India’s nuclear arsenal.
At this time, it is unclear which version of the BrahMos missile Indonesia was particularly interested in; however, there was a report last year indicating that Jakarta was interested in the air-launched version of the BrahMos. This interest makes sense since Indonesia currently maintains an operational fleet of Su-30 Flanker aircraft, which are the intended launch platform for the BrahMos.
Indonesia is actively pursuing the purchase of approximately 42 additional Chinese-made J 10C fighter jets estimated at around $9 billion. However, Indonesia has committed to purchasing Rafale jets from France. According to Deputy Defence Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto in June 2025, China presented Indonesia with the J-10C aircraft around a month after the end of hostilities between India and Pakistan, indicating Indonesia’s commitment to the enhancement of its air force capabilities.