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India Reduces Reliance on Russian Arms in Favor of American Suppliers.
India, long considered one of the primary clients of Russia’s defense industry, is undergoing a strategic shift by drastically reducing its arms imports from Moscow and increasingly turning to Western suppliers, particularly the United States. This realignment, highlighted in a December 2 article by Bloomberg, reflects New Delhi’s ambitions to diversify its procurement sources, strengthen its domestic defense industry, and maintain pragmatic relations with traditional and emerging partners.
An MQ-9 Sea Guardian unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft participates in U.S Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem 21 on April 21 (Picture source: US Navy)
According to Bloomberg, Russia’s share of India’s arms imports dropped from 76% in 2009 to just 36% last year. This decline is largely attributed to the suspension of several joint projects. Notably, plans to co-develop multi-role helicopters and advanced fighter jets have been postponed. Additionally, a crucial project to lease a Russian nuclear-powered submarine for crew training appears uncertain. However, Russia remains a key supplier for certain contracts, including the delivery of two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates and S-400 missile defense systems, deals that were signed before the war in Ukraine.
India and Russia continue to cooperate in the local production of military equipment, such as AK-203 assault rifles, manufactured in India through a bilateral agreement, and BrahMos missiles, a joint development initiative. These missiles remain a critical asset for India due to their precision and long-range strike capabilities. Nevertheless, Western sanctions against Russia have raised concerns about Moscow’s ability to fulfill future contracts, especially as it faces restricted access to critical technologies.
Simultaneously, India is deepening its ties with the United States, which is becoming a key defense partner. Since 2008, India has signed contracts worth a cumulative $20 billion with American companies. In October 2024, India finalized a $3 billion deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian drones from General Atomics, enhancing its surveillance and long-range strike capabilities.
Furthermore, India has advanced its partnership with General Electric (GE) to co-develop advanced jet engines for the Tejas Mark II light combat aircraft. This collaboration, finalized during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington, underscores both nations’ commitment to technology transfer and local manufacturing. Other significant acquisitions include Apache and Chinook helicopters and the NASAMS II air defense system, bolstering India’s aerial and missile defense capabilities.
France is also playing an increasing role, supplying Rafale fighter jets and supporting the development of conventionally powered submarines under the P-75I project. Together, these efforts align with India’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on a single supplier while enhancing domestic industrial and technological capabilities.
India’s approach is rooted in a multi-alignment strategy, emphasizing diversified partnerships without committing exclusively to any geopolitical bloc. While India has reduced its arms imports from Russia, it maintains pragmatic cooperation with Moscow, especially in nuclear capabilities. For instance, Russia remains the only country that can provide India with nuclear-powered submarines, which are a cornerstone of its maritime defense strategy.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, India has adopted a nuanced position. While refraining from directly condemning Russia’s invasion, New Delhi continues to call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. It also maintains energy imports from Russia at discounted rates, reflecting a careful balance between its energy needs, historical ties with Moscow, and its aim to preserve positive relations with Western nations.
This multi-alignment strategy enables India to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape, leveraging the benefits of each partnership while safeguarding its strategic autonomy. It allows India the flexibility to address regional and global security challenges while pursuing its long-term goal of becoming a self-reliant military and industrial power.