INDIA-RUSSIA MILITARY RELATIONS

The evacuation of thousands of Indian students in Ukraine (Operation Ganga) is the most immediate impact of Russia’s war over Ukraine on India. However, the Russia-Ukraine conflict will have long-term implications too.
For example, negotiating its relationships with the United States and other Western nations on one side, and the historically deep and strategic ties with Russia on the other.
This will most significantly have an impact on the decades-old defence trade between India and Russia.

History of India-Russia Defence Ties

India was reliant, almost solely on the British, and other Western nations for its arms imports immediately after Independence.
However, this dependence weaned, and by the 1970s India was importing several weapons systems from the USSR (now Russia), making it the country’s largest defence importer for decades.
Russia has provided some of the most sensitive and important weapons platforms that India has required from time to time including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, tanks, guns, fighter jets, and missiles.
According to one estimate, the share of Russian-origin weapons and platforms across Indian armed forces is as high as 85%.
Russia is the second-largest arms exporter in the world, following only the United States.
For Russia, India is the largest importer, and for India, Russia is the largest exporter when it comes to arms transfer.
Between 2000 and 2020, Russia accounted for 66.5% of India’s arms imports.
Russia’s share in Indian arms imports was down to about 50% between 2016 and 2020, but it still remained the largest single importer.

Defence Equipment does India procure From Russia

The first submarine India ever got was also Soviet.
The first Foxtrot Class submarine bought from the USSR entered Indian service in 1967 as INS Kalvari
Of the total 16 conventional diesel-electric submarines with the Indian Navy, eight are Kilo class, of Soviet origins.
India has one indigenously manufactured nuclear ballistic submarine (INS Arihant) commissioned, of the four that are being built. However, a lot of the technology is based on Russian platforms.
Four of the Navy’s 10 guided-missile destroyers are Russian Kashin class, and 6 of its 17 frigates are Russian Talwar class.
The only aircraft carrier in service with India, INS Vikramaditya is a Soviet-made Kiev-class vessel that came into service for the Indian Navy in 2013.
India’s missile programme has been developed with significant help from Russia or the Soviets earlier.
The BrahMos missile, which India will begin exporting soon, has been developed jointly with Russia.
Russia has also been one of main exporters of fighter aircraft to India, including hundreds of Sukhoi and MiG jets All six of the service’s air tankers are Russian-made Il-78s.

S-400 Triumf air-defence system Deal

The deal has been under the threat of American sanctions, even as the US had not decided on it yet.
However, the fresh round of sanctions on Russia could jeopardise this deal.
Joint Submarine Development: Russia has also pitched to make six Air Independent Propulsion (AIP-powered) conventional submarines for the Navy under the P75-I project, along with four other international bidders.
India is also in talks with Russia to lease two nuclear-ballistic submarines, Chakra 3 and Chakra 4, the first of which is expected to be delivered by 2025.

Way Forward

As India perceives increasing threats from Pakistan and China and as its ambitious plans to produce its own major arms have been significantly delayed, it is planning large-scale programmes for arms imports.
India’s outstanding deliveries of combat aircraft, air defence systems, ships and submarines, India’s arms imports are expected to increase over the coming five years.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT

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