Vietnam is going to become the second South-East Asian country after the Philippines, which has shown keen interest in purchasing India’s supersonic cruise missile BrahMos. During Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s two-day (18-19 May) visit to Hanoi, the BrahMos deal is going to be discussed.

According to the Defense Ministry, Rajnath Singh is also going to Vietnam (18-19 May) and South Korea (19-21 May) on a five-day tour. Before the start of the tour, Rajnath Singh himself gave information about the tour to Vietnam and South Korea on social media platform X. Rajnath Singh wrote, ‘Look forward to visiting both the Asian countries to further expand bilateral relations. Our focus will be on deepening strategic military cooperation, strengthening defense industrial partnerships and promoting maritime cooperation, which will promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

It is noteworthy that earlier this month, Vietnamese President To Lam had visited India. During that time, India had announced to provide a credit line of 500 million dollars (about Rs 5000 crore) to Vietnam. From this credit line, 03-04 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV ships) and more than a dozen high speed patrol boats are to be built for Vietnam. Apart from this, India has offered maintenance, repair and overhauling (MRO) of Vietnam’s Sukhoi fighter jets and Kilo class submarines. Like India, Vietnam also uses Russian Sukhoi fighter aircraft and Kilo class submarines.

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During the Vietnamese President’s visit to Delhi, the Indian Foreign Ministry issued an official statement informing about the discussion on purchasing BrahMos missile. In such a situation, there is a strong possibility that during Rajnath Singh’s visit to Hanoi, there is going to be a discussion between the two countries on purchasing BrahMos missile because in the year 2022, India had signed a BrahMos deal worth $375 million (Rs 3500 crore) with the Philippines.

Philippines had purchased these BrahMos (anti-ship) missiles due to tensions with China in the South China Sea. Like the Philippines, Vietnam also has a long-standing maritime dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. This is the reason why Vietnam can also buy BrahMos missile to strengthen its maritime security.

India’s Defense Ministry issued an official statement on Monday (May 18, 2026) saying that Rajnath Singh’s visit to Hanoi is taking place at a time when 10 years of comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries have been completed. During the Hanoi visit, Rajnath Singh will have a special meeting with Vietnam’s Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang. During the tour, Rajnath Singh will also pay tribute at the memorial of former Vietnamese President Ho Chin Minh.

According to the Defense Ministry, during his visit to South Korea, Rajnath Singh will discuss regional and global issues including defense cooperation with his counterpart Ahn Gyu Bak and will chair the Indo-Korea Business Roundtable. The Defense Minister will also inaugurate a war memorial in the memory of Indian soldiers martyred in the Korean War (1950-53) in Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

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Indian Army: India’s military modernization has gained momentum under the Self-reliant India initiative. The country is now paying more attention to indigenous weapons and defense systems. In the last few years, the Indian Army has added many advanced indigenous missiles, cannons, tanks, helicopters and rifles to its arsenal. Now more than 3000 defense equipment have been identified for domestic production through the Positive Indigenization List of the Defense Ministry.

indigenous missile system

One of the biggest achievements of India’s defense sector is the development of advanced missile systems. The Akash missile system has become a formidable air defense weapon. It is capable of stopping enemy aircraft, drones and missiles at short ranges. Similarly, Nag missile is a third generation fire and forget category anti-tank missile. It has been designed to destroy heavily armored enemy tanks.

India also operates the BrahMos missile. It is considered to be one of the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world. The land attack version of this missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is used by the army for precision strikes. Along with this, the Agni series equipped with nuclear capability is the backbone of India’s strategic deterrence capability.

artillery and rockets

India has also made major developments in the field of indigenous artillery systems. Pinaka rocket system is now one of the most essential rocket systems of the Army. It can fire 12 rockets in just 44 seconds. With this, enemy positions in a large area can be destroyed. Another big indigenous achievement is Dhanush. It is also often called desi Bofors. This is a 155 mm cannon which has been developed using Indian technology. With this, ATAGS has emerged as the most powerful indigenous artillery systems of its category. The Army has also advanced old artillery systems through projects like Sharang.

indigenous tank

Arjun MBT is known for its heavily armored protection and advanced firepower systems. This tank has been specially designed according to the conditions of the Indian battlefield. Although T-90S Bhishma is originally based on Russian technology, it is now being manufactured on a large scale in India. Not only this, India is also developing indigenous light tank Zoravar to be deployed in high altitude areas and hilly border areas like Ladakh.

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indigenous helicopter

India’s aviation sector has also provided many advanced foreign platforms to the army. HAL Prachanda is considered to be the only attack helicopter in the world which is capable of operating even at an altitude of about 5000 meters. Similarly, HAL Rudra Advanced Light Helicopter is an armed version of Dhruv. It is fully equipped for reconnaissance operations, support to troops and combat operations.

indigenous small arms

India has also started upgrading infantry weapons along with locally made rifles and machine pistols. INSAS rifles served as the standard rifle of the Indian Army for many years before modernization efforts gained momentum.

Now the new AK-203 rifle is being produced in Amethi with the joint collaboration of India and Russia. It is expected that it will replace the old rifles being used in many army units.

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A big defense deal is going to happen during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. Countries around the world have been demanding this weapon, but Israel has decided to give it only to India. This weapon is said to be more deadly than the BrahMos missile. Israel has set the example of that Urdu couplet, in which the poet says, ‘By keeping aside the whole world, we have kept ourselves only yours’. Now let’s talk about weapons.

After all, what is this weapon of Israel?

This is an air-launched ballistic missile named ‘Golden Horizon’. These can be launched from fighter jets like Sukhoi SU-30 MKI. According to reports, this missile reaches speed more than Mark 5 in the terminal phase. Whereas the speed of India’s BrahMos missile is around Mark 3. Due to such high speed it becomes almost impossible to intercept it.

Why more dangerous than BrahMos?

• Target: It can penetrate deep bunkers, strong forts and even nuclear facilities.
• Range: Experts estimate that its range could be 1,000 to 2,000 km, which is much more than BrahMos (up to about 800 km).
• Target Accuracy: This missile is specially designed to destroy hard targets, where cruise missiles like BrahMos can hardly reach.

Why did Israel choose only India?

Israel did not share this advanced technology with any other country. Demand came from all over the world, but Israel gave priority to India. This is the result of the growing strong defense partnership between the two countries. PM Modi had said in the Israeli Parliament, ‘In today’s uncertain world, a strong defense partnership between trusted partners like India and Israel is very important.’

Discussion on other defense systems also

Many big agreements can be signed with Israel during this visit of PM Modi. These include:

• David’s Sling: System to stop missiles and drones up to 300 kilometers.
• Iron Beam: Laser based defense, where each shot costs only 2 dollars. Very cheap and effective.
• Rampage Air-to-Ground Missile: ‘Ice Breaker’ naval cruise missile and ‘Air Lora’ supersonic missile.

India is planning to complete its multi-layered missile shield ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ by 2035. This already includes the Russian S-400, Israeli Barak and domestic Akash systems. These new deals will further strengthen India’s 15,106 km land border and 7,516 km coastline.

This deal points towards the new security alliance ‘Hexagon of Alliances’ between India and Israel. This may include India, Arab-African countries, Greece, Cyprus and Asian countries. This will be a strong step against radical forces and instability.

Pakistan is going to publicly display its Taimur air-launched cruise missile for the first time at the World Defense Show 2026. Pakistani Army has recently claimed successful testing of this missile. After this, many defense experts of Pakistan have started comparing Taimur with India’s BrahMos supersonic missile. Pakistan is calling it an important weapon to increase the strength of its Air Force. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has described the Taimur missile as a symbol of the country’s strategic maturity and technological innovation. He says that this missile gives new strength to Pakistan’s conventional military capability.

Pakistan Air Force had announced the successful test of Taimur air launched cruise missile on 3 January 2026. At that time, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu had said that this achievement enhances Pakistan’s conventional deterrence capability and operational flexibility, thereby strengthening the overall defense posture of the country. According to ISPR, the media wing of Pakistan Army, this missile was launched from Dassault Mirage IIIE fighter aircraft. During the test, the missile successfully completed its entire operational profile and a strike capability of up to 600 km was claimed.

Range and technical claims of Taimur cruise missile

Pakistan says that the maximum range of Taimur missile is up to 600 kilometers. However, under the Missile Technology Control Regime i.e. MTCR, the range of its export version has been limited to 280 kilometers. Pakistan is presenting it as a long-range conventional standoff strike missile. Without naming India, Pakistan has also said that this missile will help in strengthening deterrence without crossing the limits of nuclear tension in South Asia. Pakistan is also trying to increase its defense exports by showcasing it in the World Defense Show 2026.

BrahMos vs Taimur: Difference in speed and engine

Talking about technology and capability, Taimur missile seems far behind India’s BrahMos. BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile, whose speed ranges between 2.8 to 3 Mach. Whereas Taimur is a subsonic cruise missile, whose speed is said to be 0.8 to 0.9 Mach. There is a big difference in terms of engine also. Russia’s advanced ramjet technology has been used in BrahMos, which makes it extremely fast and deadly. In contrast, Taimur has been fitted with a turbojet or turbofan engine, which is technically considered less powerful.

Who is ahead in firepower and interception?

The firepower of BrahMos is considered very high. Due to its high speed and heavy weight, it can cause huge destruction if it hits the target even without a warhead. At present, no air defense system in the world is considered capable of completely intercepting it. Taimur cruise missile flies very close to the ground, which makes it not easy to catch. However, advanced radar systems can track it and once tracked it is considered relatively easy to shoot down. Its explosive capability is said to be of normal category.

Question on Pakistan’s claim regarding range

Even though the Pakistani Army is saying that the range of Taimur is 600 kilometers, but according to defense experts, maintaining a constant speed for such a distance and hitting the target accurately at the same speed is technically quite challenging. The missile can reach that distance, but questions remain about its effectiveness. In comparison, the current range of BrahMos is more than 290 kilometers, while the range of BrahMos 2.0 is said to be around 800 kilometers.

How much danger does Taimur missile pose to India?

Taimur missile is definitely an important achievement for Pakistan and its limited impact can be seen in the event of war. Being a low-flying cruise missile, it is not easy to intercept, but its subsonic speed gives India enough time to react. Pakistan has specially prepared Taimur for the anti-ship role. Its purpose is said to be to target Indian warships, aircraft carriers and air defense systems like S-400. This missile is light, so it can be launched from light fighter planes like JF-17.

BrahMos NG and India’s growing lead

India is currently working on BrahMos NG i.e. Next Generation, which will be lighter and can be launched from more aircraft. Currently the Indian Air Force uses BrahMos from Su-30MKI, because it is a heavy missile. Apart from this, all three Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have included BrahMos in their arsenal. Overall, BrahMos is far ahead of Taimur in terms of technology, speed and destructive capability. Nevertheless, in a war situation, India will not have to take Taimur missile lightly and will have to constantly assess the capability of its air defense network according to this threat.

India is continuously moving towards strengthening its air defence. The Russian Pantsir missile system is considered important for the security of the S-400. Experts say that India should purchase the Pantsir-S1M system as soon as possible, so that it can protect itself from attacks by drones and cruise missiles.

Pakistan misled by S-400 dummy in Operation Sindoor

During Operation Sindoor between India and Pakistan in May 2025, Pakistan attacked S-400 launchers at Adampur airbase in Punjab. But there was no damage, because the Indian Air Force had shifted the original S-400 batteries to another place. The parts that were damaged in the attack were dummies.

Retired IAF pilot and military analyst Vijender K Thakur wrote in an op-ed published on 29 November 2025 that Pakistan did not have up-to-date intelligence on the exact location of the S-400. But in future such help can be received from China or America, hence the security of S-400 is necessary.

What is Pantsir System and why is it important?

According to the Eurasian Times, the Pantsir-S1M is Russia’s short-range air defense system, which protects long-range systems like the S-400. It protects against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, drones and precision guided munitions. his-

• Range: 20-30 kilometers
• Height: up to 18 kilometers
• New Missiles: Heavy warhead (25 kg), TKB-1055 ‘Gwozd’ missile is fitted for mini drone. 12 missiles and two 30mm guns (each gun can fire 40 rounds per second).
• Upgraded Radar: Detects targets like GMLRS from double the distance. Everything including mobile and three crew members on one vehicle.

In the Ukraine war, despite the protection of Pantsir, the Russian S-400 was damaged by Ukraine’s Storm Shadow cruise missile and low-flying drone. With the help of NATO intelligence, the drones dodge Pantsir and attack the S-400.

What is the current status of the Pantsir deal between India and Russia?

This deal is to increase self-reliance under Make in India. India has been trying to acquire Pantsir for a long time…

• August 2020: Russian media Izvestia reported that many countries, including India, showed interest in the Pantsir-S1M.
• April 2024: Russia had announced to double pantsir production for its forces.
• November 2024: India and Russia had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development and production of customized variants of Pantsir.
• Earlier reports (2023-2024): Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Russia’s Rosoboronexport signed an agreement on manufacturing, technology transfer and joint development at the IRIGC meeting in Goa.

What is the opinion of experts on this deal?

Vijender Thakur says that India had purchased five regiments of S-400 in 2018, but without Pantsir this decision was wrong. This happened due to lack of budget, but now Pantsir should be achieved rapidly. The combination of S-400 and Pantsir is most effective against air threats coming from the border.

India currently has three regiments of S-400, two more are yet to arrive. Pantsir is necessary before the next conflict, so that the S-400 remains safe from low-altitude drone and missile attacks. This step will make India’s air defense layered and stronger.

The Philippines has begun formal talks with India to purchase a medium-range surface-to-air missile system (SAM). This system will replace the Philippines Air Force’s old American-made missiles, which were purchased in the 1990s.

Old missile system now ineffective
Currently, the Philippines Air Force operates only one upgraded HAWK XXI system at Clark Air Base. This system is now outdated and has limited capacity. It can intercept fighter planes at a distance of about 40-45 kilometers and cruise missiles at a distance of 20-25 kilometers. Old technology has been used in this system and it is becoming difficult to get the necessary spare parts for it. For this reason, there are continuous difficulties in its maintenance and operation.

India offered Akash-1S system
Keeping in mind the needs of Philippines, India has offered Akash-1S missile system. This system is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and is already in use in the Indian Army and Air Force. This missile system has the capability to shoot down fighter planes at a distance of about 45 kilometers and cruise missiles up to 30 kilometers. It is a mobile system that can be carried on 8×8 heavy military vehicles. A battery unit consists of four mobile launchers, each launcher carrying eight missiles. It is accompanied by a command post and 3D radar system, which is capable of identifying and tracking targets.

Why is this system considered useful for the Philippines?
The system can be deployed rapidly and works even in harsh weather conditions. It is being considered suitable for the security of sensitive military areas like Subic Bay, Clark Airbase and Palawan. This system will strengthen the air defense of the Philippines in the event of increasing maritime tensions with China.

The need for a long range system has not yet been met.
The Philippines had initially expressed its desire for a missile system with a range of 50 to 80 kilometers. India is working on a new such long-range system, Akash-NG, but it is still in the testing phase and is not yet approved for export. For this reason, only Akash-1S has been given as an option to the Philippines. India’s other missile systems such as QRSAM or MRSAM-ER have not been included in this proposal. QRSAM is short in range and MRSAM-ER has sensitive technology, so their export is not possible at present.

How much will the deal be?
According to open-source reports, if this deal is finalized then its price could be around $200 million. This will be another major achievement in defense cooperation between India and Philippines after the BrahMos missile deal.

india 800 km ranged Brahmos missile It is preparing to be included in the army in two years and its testing is currently going on, due to which there has been a stir in Pakistan. Pakistan is now saying that it has 800 km Fatah-4 with a range of missile India had also tested its missile Test of. Retired Major General Rajan of the Indian Army criticizes such hollow claims of Pakistan. Kochhar Has replied in agreement. He said that India should provide 800 km range to Pakistan. missile Don’t need 250-300 for that km with a range of missile That’s enough.

Rajan Kochhar Said that the BrahMos-800 Test done, his orientation It is on China’s side, because Pakistan is covered 250-300 kilometers by BrahMos-400. He said that BrahMos-800 testing especially for china message That we have a weapon that can easily defeat China from India. target can and this one cruise missile if so then this detect It is also difficult to do.

Pakistan on 30 September 800 km Fatah-4 with a range of 1000 km was tested and on October 20, India tested BrahMos-800. Test done, with which Pakistan expert Waist cheema Questioned whether India has conducted this test after seeing Pakistan. On this the Major General said, ,Aap Fatah and Shaheen-3 missile time of Time But Test keep doing and one strategic Signaling Let India know that we also have the capacity and 2,750 km of missile we have it so we too strike Can do. so does India’s Right is that They you too strategic Signaling keep doing and when your Army Chief on India nuclear If we talk about attack then our defense The minister will also tell you that Brahmos Can reach every corner of Pakistan Is,

He said that this is a signal messaging It is going on. unfortunately in pakistan political signal messaging military leadership and in India political messaging Our political leadership Does. The only difference is this.

inside pakistan Panic The Major General also responded to Pakistan’s claims of India’s involvement. He said that inside Pakistan Panic How can you link India with what is happening? Do you have any proof of that and if there is proof then why did you not give it to India. He said that if you are claiming that India is inside Pakistan Panic If you are spreading India, United Nations And give evidence to the international agency.