New Delhi – Russia’s latest attempts to expand India-Russia defence cooperation have met with a surprisingly lukewarm response from New Delhi, marking a significant shift in bilateral military relations. Moscow’s proposals for advanced equipment including the Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter, long-range drones, and submarines have failed to generate expected enthusiasm from Indian officials.
Russian Proposals Meet Limited Interest
In the run-up to President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India, Moscow made repeated outreach efforts promoting various defence platforms. The proposals for India-Russia defence cooperation included the Geran series of kamikaze drones, submarines, and advanced aircraft systems.
However, a senior official revealed that India did not show significant interest in the equipment offered through these India-Russia defence cooperation channels. “The Russians were expecting major movement on the sidelines of the visit and are still pursuing the proposals. We are very much focusing on development of indigenous products,” the official stated.
This restrained response represents a notable departure from India’s historical pattern of arms procurement and signals changing priorities in India-Russia defence cooperation dynamics.
Putin Visit Yields Limited Defence Breakthroughs
Despite high expectations surrounding President Putin’s visit, much-watched defence announcements in India-Russia defence cooperation did not materialize. While 19 agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade were signed, there was no breakthrough on collaboration involving the Su-57 or Russia’s S-500 air defence system.
The absence of major defence deals during this high-profile visit underscores the evolving nature of India-Russia defence cooperation. The focus appears to be shifting from large platform acquisitions to more strategic, technology-focused partnerships that align with India’s self-reliance goals.
Indigenous Defence Manufacturing Takes Priority
The restrained response to Russian proposals comes at a time when India is driving an aggressive push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing. This strategic shift is reshaping traditional patterns of India-Russia defence cooperation, with New Delhi prioritizing domestic capabilities over foreign acquisitions.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while dedicating 125 newly completed Border Roads Organisation projects to the nation in Leh on December 7, underscored the transformation in domestic defence capacity. His remarks highlighted how India’s evolving capabilities are influencing decisions about India-Russia defence cooperation.
Record Defence Production Achievements
Singh emphasized that India, once heavily dependent on arms imports, now boasts a record defence production value of ₹1.51 lakh crore, up from ₹46,000 crore in 2014. This dramatic increase reflects India’s growing self-sufficiency and explains the measured approach to new India-Russia defence cooperation proposals.
Defence exports have surged from under ₹1,000 crore to nearly ₹24,000 crore in a decade, representing what Singh described as a paradigm shift in India’s defence industrial base. These achievements provide context for India’s selective approach to India-Russia defence cooperation opportunities.
Geran Drones Proposal Lacks Appeal
The Geran drones—Russia’s indigenized variant of Iran’s Shahed-136 kamikaze drone—have played a major role in Moscow’s low-cost attrition strategy in Ukraine, enabling mass salvo attacks. Despite their battlefield effectiveness, Indian manufacturers and services have not shown interest in acquiring them through India-Russia defence cooperation channels.
This lack of interest in proven combat systems highlights India’s confidence in developing indigenous alternatives rather than importing foreign solutions, even from traditional partners in India-Russia defence cooperation frameworks.
Su-57 and S-500 Collaboration Stalls
Two of the most significant proposals in recent India-Russia defence cooperation discussions—collaboration on the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter and the S-500 air defence system—have failed to progress. These platforms represent cutting-edge Russian military technology, yet India has remained uncommitted.
The Su-57, Russia’s answer to fifth-generation stealth fighters, was once expected to be a cornerstone of future India-Russia defence cooperation. However, India’s own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program and other indigenous initiatives appear to have reduced the urgency for such acquisitions.
Working Group Meeting in Moscow
On October 29, the 23rd Working Group Meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation was held in Moscow. Co-chaired by Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), and Andrey A. Boytsov, First Deputy Director of Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, the discussions spanned tri-service cooperation and defence R&D.
This institutional framework for India-Russia defence cooperation continues to function, with the meeting concluding with the signing of a Protocol outlining fresh areas of collaboration and mutual growth. However, big-ticket defence deals remain elusive, reflecting India’s strategic recalibration.
Strategic Implications
The tepid response to Russian proposals signals a fundamental shift in India-Russia defence cooperation dynamics. While the relationship remains important, India is increasingly selective about acquisitions, preferring technology transfer and joint development over direct purchases.
This evolution in India-Russia defence cooperation reflects India’s maturing defence industrial base and growing confidence in indigenous capabilities. The focus is shifting from dependency to partnership, with India seeking relationships that support rather than substitute domestic manufacturing.
Balancing Traditional Ties with New Priorities
India faces the challenge of maintaining strong India-Russia defence cooperation while pursuing self-reliance goals. The careful navigation of this balance explains the measured response to Moscow’s proposals, as New Delhi seeks to preserve strategic relationships while advancing indigenous capabilities.
Future of Bilateral Defence Relations
As India-Russia defence cooperation evolves, the emphasis appears to be moving toward collaborative R&D, technology sharing, and niche capability development rather than large platform acquisitions. This approach allows India to leverage Russian expertise while building domestic capacity.
The current phase of India-Russia defence cooperation reflects India’s transformation from a major arms importer to an emerging defence exporter with growing indigenous capabilities, fundamentally altering the dynamics of this historically crucial bilateral relationship.
