Thailand evaluates purchase of Indo‑Russian BrahMos supersonic anti‑ship missiles

Bangkok is assessing the acquisition of the anti‑ship variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a joint Indo‑Russian system, to modernise the Royal Thai Navy’s maritime deterrence. No contract has been signed yet; discussions began after the tenth India‑Thailand defence dialogue.

If procured, the BrahMos would give Thailand a 300‑km strike range, Mach 2.8 speed and a 300‑kg warhead, vastly extending the navy’s reach in the Gulf of Thailand, the Andaman Sea and the Strait of Malacca. The missile would complement the navy’s current armament of US Harpoon and Chinese C‑802A missiles and the air force’s Swedish RBS‑15 missiles.

The move reflects Thailand’s strategic hedging policy, seeking greater independence in coastal defence while deepening security ties with India, which is expanding its defence export footprint after previous sales to the Philippines and ongoing talks with Indonesia, Vietnam and the UAE.