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SOURCE: AFI

In recent weeks, a flurry of disinformation campaigns on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), have attempted to sow discord over India’s defense exports. Specifically, ISI-backed Pakistani X handles have circulated a narrative suggesting that an explosion of an Indian BrahMos missile, purportedly at its launch site in the Philippines on July 2, 2024, led Indonesia to reject the missile system. This narrative, however, is unfounded and lacks any substantiation from credible sources.

The claims made by these Pakistani accounts assert that an Indian-made BrahMos missile exploded due to a malfunction, killing several Philippine Navy personnel. This narrative has been propagated with the intent to undermine the credibility of India’s defense products and its international defense collaborations. However, thorough fact-checking and analysis reveal no such event occurred. Filipino media outlets have not reported any such explosion or related casualties, reinforcing the falsehood of these claims.

The disinformation campaign seems to be strategically designed to impact India’s defense ties in Southeast Asia, particularly focusing on nations like Indonesia, which have shown interest in acquiring BrahMos missiles. The propaganda suggests that Indonesia, observing the alleged incident, decided against purchasing the missile system, citing safety concerns. Yet, no official statements or credible reports from Indonesia or any other involved party support this assertion.

Instead, discussions around Indonesia’s interest in BrahMos have been ongoing, with no indication of a decision to reject the system due to an incident that, according to all available evidence, did not happen. Furthermore, the narrative seems to be a part of a broader strategy by Pakistan to disrupt India’s growing defense export market, especially in regions where tensions with China are high and nations are looking to diversify their military acquisitions.

India has been actively promoting the BrahMos missile system internationally, with the first export being to the Philippines, which was delivered in April 2024 without any reported incidents involving explosions or malfunctions. The BrahMos, a product of the joint venture BrahMos Aerospace between India and Russia, is known for its speed and precision, making it a valuable asset for countries aiming to enhance their maritime security, particularly in contested areas like the South China Sea.

Indonesia’s defense considerations involve a wide array of factors, including strategic alignment, cost, and effectiveness, rather than being swayed by unverified incidents. The interest from Indonesia in BrahMos missiles is well-documented, aiming to strengthen its naval capabilities amidst regional tensions.