NEW DELHI, July 1 — India and Brazil are advancing talks to deepen defence cooperation, with a strong focus on joint production, technology collaboration, and cross-border procurement of military hardware.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Brazil from July 5–8 for the 17th BRICS summit, both countries are preparing to place a wide range of defence partnerships on the bilateral agenda. Modi will also hold a formal meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the summit’s sidelines.
India is particularly interested in collaborating on an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), using the Brazil-manufactured Embraer aircraft as the base platform. Meanwhile, Brazil has shown strong interest in acquiring Indian-made Akash surface-to-air missiles, battlefield communication systems, artillery guns, coastal surveillance radars, and offshore patrol vessels.
“The Embraer is being looked at for a reconnaissance platform,” said P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, at a briefing on Monday. “There is a lot of potential to work with Brazil. The two countries are looking at joint ventures, joint research and co-development.”
Notably, India’s Akash missile system gained credibility after its operational success during the May 7–10 military standoff with Pakistan. Brazil’s interest in acquiring these systems reflects a growing recognition of India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
In a parallel development, Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer and Indian conglomerate Mahindra have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on producing the C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft in India. The aircraft is being considered to replace India’s ageing Soviet-origin AN-32 fleet, a key part of the Indian Air Force’s transport command.
The scope of cooperation extends beyond weapons and aircraft. Both countries operate the French-origin Scorpene class submarine, prompting discussions about setting up joint maintenance infrastructure for improved interoperability and logistical efficiency.
India and Brazil already have a robust framework in place through their Joint Defence Committee (JDC), established under a 2003 agreement. Since then, the two nations have conducted 14 high-level exchanges between defence leadership. Furthermore, 134 officers — 70 Indian and 64 Brazilian — have received training in each other’s military institutions since 2007.
The defence partnership was further institutionalised this year with the launch of the ‘2+2 Political-Military Dialogue’, aligning the relationship with similar formats India shares with other key partners like the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
As strategic partners in global platforms such as BRICS, G20, and the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) dialogue, the defence relationship between New Delhi and Brasília is becoming a crucial pillar of their broader geopolitical engagement.
With both countries looking to reduce reliance on traditional Western defence suppliers, the upcoming summit is expected to chart a more structured, long-term roadmap for South-South defence collaboration.
