The Stimson Center, a non-profit think tank based in Washington, USA, has published a paper revealing that 86% of the equipment, weapons, and platforms currently in active military service in India are of Russian origin. The Center aims to enhance international peace and security through data analysis and outreach.
Data Analysis
According to the data gathered by the Stimson Center, over 55% of Indian defence imports since 2014 have come from Russia. This includes more than 41% of the navy’s equipment and two-thirds of the Indian Air Force (IAF) inventory. Shockingly, 90% of the Army’s equipment is of Russian origin, tallying around 10,000 pieces of military hardware. This data is further supported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), declaring Russia as India’s top defence supplier with 9.3 billion USD worth of exports. The USA follows in second place, supplying India with 2.3 billion USD worth of defence equipment during the same period.
Major Military Equipment: Russian Origin
Several key pieces of India’s military equipment are of Russian origin, including the Navy’s only active aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and its only nuclear attack submarine in service, Chakra II. The Army’s primary battle tanks, T-90 and T-72, and IAF’s Su30 MKI fighter, are also Russian-made. Moreover, BrahMos, India’s only nuclear-capable supersonic cruise missile, is produced through a joint venture with Russia.
Despite diversifying its supplier base to include countries like the USA, Israel, and France, Russia remains a major provider for India’s military needs. Recent developments include India’s proposals to acquire 21 Mig29 and 12 Su30 MKI fighter aircraft from Russia for 2.4 billion USD. Furthermore, in 2007 India and Russia agreed to a joint programme to develop a variant of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft Programme (FGFA). Presently, India is in negotiations with Russia over the price of AK103 rifles for its ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Major Military Equipment: USA Origin
However, it’s not just Russia that’s supplying India with military equipment. The USA has been instrumental in providing Apache and Chinook helicopters, M777 howitzer guns for the Army, and Boeing C-17 and C-130J for IAF. The navy also uses P8I submarine hunter aircraft of American origin.
Reasons Behind India’s Dependency on Russia
A deep-rooted defence relationship and familiarity with each other’s processes and systems are some of the reasons why India depends heavily on Russia. Russia supplies specialized equipment to India, such as the S-400 Air Defence Missile Systems, nuclear submarines, and an aircraft carrier, which sets it apart from other countries. Furthermore, these systems have proven their utility and effectiveness in developing India’s combat capability, especially concerning higher-end strike platforms.
Significance Considering Recent Events
Interestingly, despite the recent tensions on the Ladakh border, which brought India and the USA closer against their shared adversary, China, the Indian armed forces remain widely dependent on Russian equipment, weapons, and military platforms. Furthermore, the USA has recently requested all its allies and partners, including India, to halt transactions with Russia. This move could potentially trigger sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) by the USA against India.