Beyond the Horizon: Why the UAE is looking at India’s BrahMos and Akashteer for its frontline defence

As regional security dynamics shift in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi is turning to New Delhi’s flagship missile and air defence technology to secure its borders.

The geopolitical map of the Middle East is being redrawn, and with it, the procurement priorities of its most influential players. Following the recent tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the US, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is quietly recalibrating its military shield. In a significant move, the Gulf nation has initiated early-stage talks with India to acquire the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akashteer air defence system, marking a potential shift in how Abu Dhabi plans to safeguard its skies and its vital energy corridors.

Multiple sources confirm that the dialogue is moving quickly, though both the Indian government and their counterparts in the UAE have maintained a diplomatic silence. For the UAE, the motivation is clear: the country has faced direct threats from drones and missiles in recent years, making the protection of the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most critical energy artery—an urgent priority. By looking toward India, Abu Dhabi is not just shopping for hardware; it is seeking a reliable partner that offers high-tech solutions without the traditional geopolitical strings often attached to Western or regional suppliers.

The Tech Under Consideration

The interest in the BrahMos is hardly surprising. As the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, it has become a staple of India’s export ambitions, already finding takers in Southeast Asian nations like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Its ability to strike with precision at high speeds makes it a formidable deterrent.

Complementing this is the Akashteer system. Developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd in tandem with the Indian Army, this is a fully automated air defence command-and-control platform. It acts as the "brain" of a ground-based air defence network, allowing forces to integrate various sensors and weapon systems into one cohesive, real-time picture. For a country like the UAE, which relies on a layered approach to monitor aerial incursions, integrating a system like Akashteer could drastically reduce response times to incoming threats.

The Bigger Picture: Strategic Autonomy

Why does this matter? For decades, the UAE’s defence architecture was heavily tethered to Western equipment. However, recent years have seen a clear trend of "strategic autonomy." Earlier this year, the UAE inked a massive defence cooperation deal with South Korea valued at over USD 35 billion. Adding India to this mix suggests that Abu Dhabi is not looking for a single-source provider, but a diversified, "best-of-breed" approach to national security.

This pivot is a masterstroke of diplomatic balancing. Both India and the UAE enjoy strong ties with Washington, meaning this potential deal is unlikely to ruffle feathers in the US. Instead, it signals the emergence of a new security corridor. For New Delhi, these talks are a validation of its "Make in India" initiative, proving that Indian-made defence technology has moved from being a regional asset to a globally competitive product. As these talks progress, the Middle East may soon see an "Indian-made" stamp on the systems protecting some of the world's most sensitive waters.