Brazil Eyes India’s Akash Missile And Garuda Guns Ahead Of Modi’s BRICS Visit

Brazil has shown interest in acquiring India’s Akash air defence system and Garuda artillery guns, among other military platforms. A senior Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official shared this on Monday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Brazil for the BRICS Summit next week.

P Kumaran, Secretary (East) in the MEA, addressed a press conference. He said, “There is going to be discussions on defence cooperation and enhancing it with Brazil. We’re looking at avenues for joint research, technology sharing, and training exchanges. We’re still talking about what kind of cooperation is possible, what kind of defence platforms we can sell to Brazil, but there is still not much progress made.”

He added that Brazil seems interested in secure battlefield communication systems, offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and maintenance partnerships for their Scorpene submarines. “They also seem to be interested in the Akash air defence system and in coastal surveillance systems, Garuda artillery guns and so on,” Kumaran said.

Akash and Garuda gain global attention

The Akash air defence system, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a medium-range, mobile surface-to-air missile. It intercepts aerial threats such as fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and air-to-surface missiles. The system covers 25–45 km and hits targets at altitudes up to 20 km. Its supersonic speed—Mach 1.8 to 2.5—comes from a ramjet-rocket propulsion system.

Akash proved crucial during Operation Sindoor. It repelled drone and missile attacks from Pakistan and protected key Indian assets. Its high success rate in intercepting multiple threats has drawn global attention.

The Garuda artillery system, another indigenous platform, offers high mobility and precision. It suits coastal defence and rapid deployment roles, making it attractive for Brazil.

Brazil is also open to defence joint ventures with India. “There is a lot of potential for us to work with Brazil given their strength in Embraer and in the aircraft industry in general,” Kumaran noted.

Prime Minister Modi will visit Brazil from 5 to 8 July to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro. He will also hold bilateral meetings during his state visit. As part of his eight-day tour, Modi will visit Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Namibia, according to the MEA.

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