Brazil, India eye joint production of defence equipment, mutual buying

India and Brazil are looking at each other’s manufacturing capabilities for joint production of defence equipment and buying military equipment from each other.

Brazil is keen on having Indian-made Akash missiles, artillery guns, coastal radars and secure communication used in the battlefield. The Akash missiles proved their mettle during the recent conflict between India and Pakistan on May 7-10.

Meanwhile, New Delhi is keen on having a joint collaboration to develop an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), based on the Brazil-made plane, Embraer.

Separately, Embraer and India-based Mahindra have signed an MoU to collaborate on making the C-390 multi-mission transport aircraft. India is looking at planes of this class to replace the Soviet-origin AN 32 planes.

These issues are likely to come up in the upcoming bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil President Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. Modi will visit Brazil from July 5 to 8 to attend the 17th BRICS summit, followed by a state visit.

P Kumaran, Secretary (East), MEA, on Monday said, “There is lot of potential to work with Brazil. The two countries are looking at joint ventures, joint research and co- development. The Embraer is being looked at for a reconnaissance platform.”

Kumaran said Brazil had shown interest in India’s secure communication system, off-shore patrol vessels, Akash missiles, coastal radars and artillery guns.

Additionally, Brazil uses the French-origin Scorpene class submarine, which is also used by India. The two countries are also exploring the idea of a joint maintenance infrastructure for the submarine.

The two countries already have a joint defence committee (JDC). Established under a 2003 agreement, this committee has facilitated 14 high-level exchanges between defence chiefs of both nations.

Since 2007, 134 defence officers (70 from India and 64 from Brazil) have undergone training in each other’s institutions. In 2024, the two countries launched the ‘2+2 Political-Military Dialogue’.

Both countries are strategic partners in various multilateral forums like BRICS, G20 and ISBA (India-Brazil South Africa) platform.

India