India, Russia seek deeper defence partnership through joint production
- The latest defence discussions indicate that India and Russia are seeking to build on that established relationship by placing greater emphasis on co-development, production and technology — potentially marking a new phase in one of Asia’s longest-running defence partnerships.
India and Russia are looking to deepen their long-standing defence relationship by moving beyond traditional arms purchases towards greater joint production, technology transfer and the development of weapons for export, analysts said.
The evolving defence partnership was highlighted by the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. The two leaders met and embraced on Friday, underscoring the continuing importance of defence and strategic ties between the two countries.
Analysts said the engagement reflects a broader effort by New Delhi and Moscow to recalibrate their defence cooperation around technology and industrial production rather than relying primarily on direct arms sales. Joint production is expected to be an important element of this approach, with both sides exploring opportunities to manufacture defence equipment together and expand technology cooperation.
The aim is to strengthen industrial capabilities while creating opportunities for weapons and defence systems developed through the partnership to reach overseas markets. Missile exports and Russian offers involving fighter aircraft are emerging as early areas in which the direction of the partnership could be tested.
India has maintained a close defence relationship with Russia for decades, with Russian-origin equipment forming an important part of the country’s military inventory. The latest discussions point towards an effort to adapt that relationship to India’s growing emphasis on domestic defence manufacturing and technology development.
For Moscow, deeper industrial cooperation with India also provides an opportunity to maintain and expand a major defence partnership at a time when international defence markets and supply chains are undergoing significant changes. The push for joint production and technology transfer could therefore give the India-Russia relationship a more industrial character, linking defence procurement with manufacturing, technological development and potential exports.
The Modi-Putin engagement on the sidelines of the BRICS summit came as the two countries continue to maintain broad strategic ties extending beyond defence, including trade, energy and other areas of economic cooperation. Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal described the relationship in a social media post as a bond that continues to grow stronger, reflecting New Delhi’s emphasis on the longstanding nature of its partnership with Moscow.
The latest defence discussions indicate that India and Russia are seeking to build on that established relationship by placing greater emphasis on co-development, production and technology — potentially marking a new phase in one of Asia’s longest-running defence partnerships.
