The Indian government has entered talks with the UAE to sell some of its defence systems, including the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, four Indian sources said, as the Gulf nation steps up arms procurement following the war in the Middle East.

The discussions, which have not been previously reported, include the potential sale of India's air defence system Akashteer, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

"UAE has shown interest in a number of our weapon systems including BrahMos and Akashteer. The talks between India and UAE are at initial stages and are progressing fast," said a third source with direct knowledge of the matter.

BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is a cruise missile that can be launched from land, sea and air platforms, while Akashteer is a fully automated air defence system developed by India's state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd and the Indian Army.

The UAE is considering buying defence equipment from India and other sources after the Gulf nation was heavily attacked by Iran during the war and as it enhances its ability to respond to emerging threats.

Before clinching any BrahMos sale to the UAE, India would require Russia's approval, as the 290-kilometre range missile is jointly developed.

Deepening partnership

Closer ties between India and the UAE in recent years have led to a flurry of deals on trade and energy and a pact to jointly develop military hardware.

Talks to sell India’s flagship weapons systems to the UAE come amid shifting regional alignments, with India viewing the potential deal as a sign of its growing partnership with the UAE.

Since last year, India has signed deals to sell the BrahMos to Vietnam and Indonesia.

India's defence exports surged to over $4 billion in the year ending March 2026.