Vietnam is considering purchasing supersonic BrahMos missiles from a joint Russian-Indian venture. The parties may discuss the terms of the deal during President To Lam's visit to New Delhi from May 5-7. This was reported by sources from The Economic Times.

The potential contract is estimated at approximately $629 million. This amount will include not only the missiles themselves, but also the training of Vietnamese specialists, as well as logistical support.

Which modification of BrahMos interests Hanoi – shore-based, sea-based, or air-based – has not yet been specified.

The complex is being developed by Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is based on the Soviet P-800 anti-ship missile, known in Russia as "Onyx". The name BrahMos is derived from the names of two rivers – the Brahmaputra and the Moskva.

The missile flies at a speed of over Mach 3, uses an inertial guidance system with satellite correction, and an active radar homing head.

The warhead, weighing about 300 kilograms, is capable of hitting targets at a range of up to 400 kilometers. India has already supplied BrahMos complexes to the Philippines and continues to expand its export geography.

For Vietnam, the deal could strengthen coastal defense and deepen military-technical partnership with India, but a final decision has not yet been made.