India denied selling BrahMos cruise missiles to Vietnam after a report said the missiles have been delivered to the Southeast Asian nation which has tense relations with China.
The development comes as tension between India and China continues along the border, with a standoff in Sikkim sector since June, and a fresh scuffle taking place in Ladakh sector.
Defence Ministry sources in New Delhi denied any sale of the BrahMos missiles, jointly developed by India and Russia. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Vietnam has also clarified that there has been no sale of BrahMos missiles.
Following that, there was a press release put out by the foreign ministry. They had clarified that their spokesperson did not confirm the sale of BrahMos but referred to defence and strategic cooperation between the two countries,” the MEA spokesperson said.
India and Russia last year agreed in principle to export the jointly developed cruise missile. According to sources, a number of countries have expressed interest in buying the missile, but no deal has been inked yet.
Sources had earlier said talks were in the advanced stage with UAE, Chile, South Africa, and Vietnam. Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had also said that India is keen on exporting the BrahMos missile.
The BrahMos is a short-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, aircraft, or land.
BrahMos Block-III is a joint Russian-Indian project, which is based on Russian P-800 Oniks missile. Block III had advanced guidance and upgraded software, incorporating high manoeuvres at multiple points and steep dive from high altitude.
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