Malaysia is in exploratory talks to acquire India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system as part of broader efforts to deepen defence and strategic cooperation between Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi, but a final decision is yet to be reached, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. – Bernama pic

Malaysia is in exploratory talks to acquire India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system as part of broader efforts to deepen defence and strategic cooperation between Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi, but a final decision is yet to be reached, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

Speaking in an interview with India’s NDTV on Saturday, Anwar confirmed the potential acquisition of the BrahMos system was raised during his bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said that any procurement decision would ultimately be determined by Malaysia’s armed forces, based on its operational and technical requirements.

“We did discuss it, but normally my position is always to get the departments or agencies concerned, those having the expertise in the Air Force; they should then continue,” he said.

“They have had initial discussions, and I told Prime Minister Modi that I am very supportive of that because first, the relationship is built on trust and we want to cement it in all fields,” Anwar said.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said Malaysia recognised India’s growing capabilities in the defence sector.

“India has a long history not only in the air force but also in military capability,” he said.

The remarks come as Malaysia and India seek to broaden their bilateral relationship beyond trade and investment into defence, aerospace, maritime security and other strategic areas.

The BrahMos system is a long-range, ramjet-powered supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya through their joint venture, BrahMos Aerospace.

The missile can be deployed from multiple platforms, including land-based mobile launchers, warships, submarines and fighter aircraft, giving operators flexibility in conducting precision strikes against targets at sea and on land.

The potential procurement forms part of Malaysia and India’s push to expand bilateral relations beyond trade and investment into defence, aerospace, maritime security, and other strategic areas.

For India, BrahMos has become one of its flagship defence exports, supporting New Delhi’s drive to expand its global arms market footprint and strengthen partnerships with friendly nations.