India is reported to have proposed the supply of its indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile system to Brazil, as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held wide-ranging talks with Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin in New Delhi on Wednesday.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the proposal forms part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and promote Indian-made military platforms to strategic partners in Latin America. The Brazilian Defence Minister José Múcio Monteiro Filho also attended the meeting, underscoring the seriousness of Brazil’s engagement with India’s expanding defence industry.
In an official statement, the Indian Defence Ministry said the two sides “identified priority areas for joint work, including exploring opportunities for co-development and co-production of defence equipment.” Both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepen collaboration across the defence and strategic sectors, building on the India-Brazil strategic partnership established in 2006.
The Akash missile system, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a short-range surface-to-air missile capable of targeting aircraft and drones up to 25 km away. It has been successfully inducted into the Indian Air Force and Army and is considered one of India’s major indigenous defence exports, with recent interest shown by countries such as the Philippines and Armenia.
Officials indicated that Brazil’s evaluation of the Akash system could open the door for joint production or technology transfer, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative and Brazil’s focus on boosting local defence manufacturing.
“The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to advance defence cooperation, focusing on military-to-military exchanges, including joint exercises and training visits,” the statement added.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of ongoing defence-related initiatives and explored mechanisms to enhance interoperability between the armed forces of the two nations. Analysts say the engagement signals India’s growing outreach to South America, a region with significant potential for defence and strategic collaboration.
By pitching the Akash system, India aims not only to expand its defence exports but also to build a long-term industrial partnership with Brazil, one of Latin America’s leading military powers and a key member of BRICS.
