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India-UAE Defense Deals and Weapon System Exports

Tuesday, June 23, 2026
5 min read
India-UAE Defense Deals and Weapon System Exports

Some chatter is going on between India and the UAE right now about defense deals. Specifically, there are talks happening over exporting some of India's key defense systems. Think stuff like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile coming up. That’s what Reuters got wind of, based on people who know the situation a bit.

It isn't just about one thing though. They’re also looking at selling the Akashteer air defense system. Abu Dhabi is really trying to beef up its military capabilities because things are getting seriously tense across West Asia. Security concerns are huge right now.

Sources tell us that Abu Dhabi is interested in several Indian weapon systems. Negotiations are moving, even if they’re still just at the very beginning stages. It's progressing pretty fast, it seems.

"The UAE has shown interest for a number of our weapon systems including BrahMos and Akashteer ," one source told Reuters. They admitted the talks between India and the UAE are early on but moving quickly now.

What’s going on with those systems? The BrahMos missile itself is pretty impressive, you know? It's jointly made by India and Russia. Everyone says it’s one of the fastest cruise missiles out there. It can be launched from land, sea, or air platforms. Then there's Akashteer . That system is an automated air defense command and control setup. Developed locally, actually, by Bharat Electronics Ltd working with the Indian Army.

Why is this all happening for the UAE? They are trying to build up their defenses as they look at buying stuff from different places. It’s about gaining some strategic autonomy. Plus, having closer ties with India means less friction with the US. They stay allies, after all.

This whole defense shopping seems tied into bigger regional worries. The UAE is focused on protecting vital routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz that's key for their energy exports. There was some big cooperation earlier this year, too; Abu Dhabi signed a defence deal with South Korea worth over thirty-five billion dollars.

There’s a broader picture happening in the arms market. Looking at where the money goes... SIPRI data shows the US was the biggest seller of arms to the Middle East between 2021 and 2025. Fifty-four percent of those imports went there, followed by Italy and France.

But this doesn't ignore the bigger players. If India sells something like BrahMos to the UAE, you have to factor in Russia. Because that missile is a joint project between India and Russia. Moscow has to say yes, obviously. But one source mentioned that getting approval from Moscow probably won’t be a huge headache. Russia and Abu Dhabi have pretty solid ties, after all. It makes securing that consent less difficult than you might think.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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