A recent disinformation campaign originating from Pakistan has targeted India's BrahMos missile program, attempting to sow doubt about its safety and reliability.
Spread primarily through X (formerly Twitter), this ISI-backed campaign falsely claims that a BrahMos missile exploded at its launch site in the Philippines on July 2, 2024, leading to casualties and prompting Indonesia to reject the missile system.
The false narrative propagated by these Pakistani accounts alleges that the Indian-made BrahMos missile exploded due to a malfunction, killing several Philippine Navy personnel. This fabricated story aims to damage the credibility of India's defence products and its international defence collaborations.
However, a thorough fact-check reveals no such incident occurred. Filipino media outlets have not reported any explosion or related casualties, confirming the falsehood of these claims.
This disinformation campaign appears strategically designed to disrupt India's defence ties in Southeast Asia, particularly with nations like Indonesia that have expressed interest in acquiring the BrahMos missile.
The propaganda falsely asserts that Indonesia, after observing the alleged incident, decided against purchasing the missile system due to safety concerns. However, no official statements or credible reports from Indonesia or any involved party support this claim.
Discussions regarding Indonesia's potential acquisition of the BrahMos missile are ongoing, with no indication of a rejection based on an incident that, according to all available evidence, never happened.
This disinformation campaign seems to be part of a broader strategy by Pakistan to undermine India's growing defence export market, especially in regions where tensions with China are high and nations seek to diversify their military acquisitions.
India has been actively promoting the BrahMos missile system internationally, with the Philippines being the first export customer. The missiles were delivered in April 2024 without any reported incidents of explosions or malfunctions.
The BrahMos, a product of the joint venture BrahMos Aerospace between India and Russia, is renowned for its speed and precision, making it a valuable asset for countries seeking to enhance their maritime security.
Indonesia's defence considerations are based on various factors, including strategic alignment, cost-effectiveness, and operational requirements, not on unverified incidents. Indonesia's interest in the BrahMos missile remains strong, as it aims to bolster its naval capabilities amidst regional tensions.
This disinformation campaign highlights the challenges faced by countries like India in navigating the complex landscape of international defence cooperation and the need to counter misinformation that seeks to undermine legitimate defence partnerships.
