UAE Eyes India's BrahMos and Akashteer Systems as Defence Diversification Strategy Gains Momentum

According to a Reuters report, India and the UAE are engaged in preliminary discussions over the possible sale of the two systems. The talks come as Abu Dhabi seeks to bolster its ability to counter emerging threats following recent conflicts in the Middle East. If the discussions culminate in an agreement, the deal would significantly enhance the UAE's capability to conduct precision strikes against maritime and land targets while improving its capacity to detect, track and respond to aerial threats through an integrated air-defence network.

The UAE has long pursued a policy of diversifying defence procurement by sourcing military equipment from multiple countries instead of relying on a single supplier. Pearl Pandya, South Asia senior analyst at Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a conflict monitoring group, said that a diversified supplier base provides the UAE with greater strategic autonomy and that stronger ties with India offer the additional advantage of not antagonising the United States, as both countries remain allies.

Although the United States continues to be the UAE's principal security partner, the country has steadily expanded its military inventory through acquisitions from both Western and non-Western suppliers. The UAE Air Force currently operates 80 American F-16 E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon fighter aircraft and approximately 60 French Mirage 2000-9 fighters, while 80 Rafale fighters ordered from France are awaiting delivery. The country also operates Wing Loong series drones acquired from China.

For air defence, the UAE primarily relies on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system and Patriot missile systems supplied by the United States. It has also incorporated the Russian Pantsir-S1 short-range air-defence system and the South Korean Cheongung-II medium-range air-defence system into its inventory.

The country's latest push toward defence diversification was highlighted in February 2026, when Abu Dhabi and Seoul signed a defence cooperation memorandum of understanding valued at more than 35 billion dollars.

Situated along the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of global oil trade passes, the UAE faces growing threats from ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. Recent conflicts in the Middle East have further underscored the vulnerability of cities and critical infrastructure to such attacks.

The BrahMos missile, designed for both anti-ship and land-attack roles, would provide the UAE with the capability to rapidly engage hostile naval vessels threatening shipping lanes, offshore energy facilities and coastal infrastructure. In addition to its maritime role, BrahMos would considerably enhance the country's conventional strike capabilities. The missile can be launched from land, sea and air platforms and is capable of striking both maritime and land-based targets. This would provide the UAE with an additional stand-off strike capability against military installations, command centres and other high-value targets.

Beyond its operational role, BrahMos would serve as a strategic deterrent by increasing the costs of any potential aggression against the UAE. Abu Dhabi's defence modernisation efforts are increasingly being shaped by changing regional security dynamics and the need to safeguard critical infrastructure.

While BrahMos would strengthen the country's offensive capabilities, the Akashteer system could play an equally significant role in reinforcing its defensive posture. Akashteer functions as a centralised network integrating inputs from radars, sensors, communication systems and air-defence weapons into a common operational picture. This enables military commanders to detect, track and respond to aerial threats with greater speed and efficiency.

The effectiveness of any air-defence network depends not only on the quality of its missile systems but also on the ability of radars, sensors and interceptors to communicate seamlessly. Akashteer is specifically designed to address this challenge by creating a unified and automated battlefield air-defence picture.

The system operates within a broader framework that includes the Akash surface-to-air missile system and other air-defence assets. Adoption of Akashteer would also familiarise the UAE with India's air-defence architecture, potentially opening avenues for deeper cooperation in missile defence and future air-defence modernisation programmes.

If negotiations result in a final agreement, the acquisition of BrahMos and Akashteer would represent far more than another addition to the UAE's expanding military inventory. Together, the two systems would strengthen both the offensive and defensive pillars of the country's defence architecture at a time when regional conflicts are increasingly defined by missile, drone and maritime threats, marking another significant step in the UAE's strategy of building a diversified and resilient security framework.