India and UAE Air Defence Deals: India is talking with the United Arab Emirates about selling some of its main defence systems, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akashteer air defence system. Reuters said the talks are still at an early stage, but they are moving fast. The UAE is looking at more weapons after the war in the Middle East and wants stronger defence power for new threats. It also wants better protection for the Strait of Hormuz, which is very important for its energy exports.
The BrahMos missile is made together by India and Russia. It can be fired from land, sea and air. Akashteer is a fully automated air defence system made by Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Indian Army. Defence experts say Akashteer can help pull together data from different systems so air threats can be tracked better.
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Why the UAE is Looking Beyond One Supplier?
The UAE is not only looking at India. Earlier this year, it signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea for defence cooperation worth more than $35 billion. Reuters also reported that the U.S. was the biggest arms exporter to the Middle East between 2021 and 2025, with 54% of imports. Italy had 12% and France had 11%, reported Reuters. This shows that the UAE is keeping many options open as it builds up its defence strength.
The UAE already has powerful U.S. weapons, including the MGM-168 ATACMS missile and the THAAD and Patriot air defence systems. Even so, the country is still looking for more choices. Reuters said this kind of wider supplier list gives the UAE more freedom and does not upset its ties with the U.S.
India’s Defence Export are Growing
India cannot close a BrahMos deal with the UAE without Russia’s approval because the missile is jointly developed. Reuters said this is not expected to become a big problem, since Russia has close ties with Abu Dhabi. India has already signed BrahMos deals with Vietnam and Indonesia. It has also seen interest from Thailand, South Africa, Brazil and Chile. The only earlier BrahMos sale was to the Philippines in 2022.
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India’s defence exports have also jumped sharply. Government data cited by Reuters showed exports rose to more than $4 billion in the year ending March 2026, compared with just $7.26 million in 2013-14. Reuters also reported in April 2026 that India’s defence exports for the fiscal year to March reached 384.24 billion rupees ($4.11 billion), up more than 62% from the previous year. That rise has made India look more active in the global arms market.
