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INDIA RUSSIA - MILITARY RELATIONS

May 04, 2022

INDIA RUSSIA - MILITARY RELATIONS

History of India's defence ties with Russia

Immediately after independence, India was almost entirely dependent on the British and other Western nations for its arms imports. However, by the 1970s, India was importing several weapons systems from the Soviet Union (now Russia), making it the country's largest defence importer for decades. India has relied on Russia for some of the most sensitive and significant weapons platforms, including nuclear submarines, tanks, aircraft carriers, guns, fighter jets, and missiles. According to one estimate, Russian-made weapons and platforms account for up to 85 per cent of the Indian armed forces. Russia is the world's second-largest arms exporter, only behind the United States. When it comes to arms transfer, India is the largest importer of Russia and the largest exporter of India. Russia accounted for 66.5 per cent of India's arms imports between 2000 and 2020. Between 2016 and 2020, Russia's share in Indian arms imports fell to around 50%, but it remained the largest single importer.

What kind of defence equipment does India purchase from Russia?

  • Submarines: India received its first submarine from the Soviet Union.
  • The first Foxtrot Class submarine purchased from the Soviet Union, the INS Kalvari, joined Indian service in 1967.
  • Eight of the Indian Navy's sixteen conventional diesel-electric submarines are Kilo class of soviet origins.
  • Out of the four nuclear ballistic submarines being developed in India, only one (INS Arihant) has been commissioned. However, Russian platforms are used for a lot of the technology.
  • Frigates and guided-missile destroyers: Russian Kashin class destroyers account for four of the Navy's ten guided-missile destroyers, while Russian Talwar class frigates account for six of the Navy's seventeen frigates.
  • The only aircraft carrier in India's service, the INS Vikramaditya is a Soviet-built Kiev-class vessel that came into service with the Indian Navy in 2013.
  • India's missile programme was formerly developed with significant help from Russia or the Soviet Union.
  • India and Russia collaborated on the BrahMos missile, which India will begin exporting soon.
  • Fighter Jets: Russia has been a major supplier of fighter jets to India, including hundreds of Sukhoi and MiG jets. The service's six air tankers are all Russian-made Il-78s.
  • Arms and Ammunition: India's current military arsenal is heavily stocked with Russian-made or Russian-designed equipment, according to the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS).
  • Tanks: The Indian Army's main battle tank force is primarily made up of Russian T-72M1 (66 per cent) and T-90S (30 per cent).
  • Favourable Russian Military Exports to India: Russia's influence in India is largely based on its willingness to give weapons systems and technologies to India that no other country will.
  • The United States only provides non-lethal defence technology such as the C-130j Super Hercules, C-13 Globemaster, P-8i Poseidon etc.
  • Russia, on the other hand, provides high-end technology such as the Brahmos supersonic missile and the S-400 anti-missile system.
  • Russia is also continuing to offer advanced weapon platforms at affordable rates.

What impact could this Russia-Ukraine war have on military supplies?

  • Two major defence deals between India and Russia are currently in jeopardy as a result of the current crisis.
  • S-400 Triumf air-defence system
  • Even though the US had not yet decided on the deal, it was threatened with sanctions.
  • However, a new wave of sanctions against Russia could jeopardise the deal.
  • Joint Submarine Development
  • Russia, along with four other international bidders, has submitted a proposal to build six Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)-powered conventional submarines for the Navy under the P75-I project.
  • India is also in talks with Russia to lease 2nuclear-ballistic submarines, the Chakra 3 and Chakra 4, the first of which is expected in 2025.

What plans does India have to diversify its arms imports?

  • There have been continuous efforts in recent years to expand the weapons platform bases not only to other countries but even within the United States.
  • According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) international arms transfer trends report from last year, India's arms imports declined by 33% between 2011 and 2016.
  • In 2011–15, the United States was India's second-largest arms supplier, but in 2016–20, India's arms imports from the United States were 46% lower than the previous five-year period, making the United States India's fourth-largest supplier.
  • In 2016–20, France and Israel were India's second and third largest arms suppliers, respectively.

Way Forward

  • India is preparing large-scale arms import programmes as it senses increased threats from Pakistan and China, and as its ambitious plans to develop its own major arms have been significantly delayed.
  • India's arms imports are expected to rise over the next five years due to outstanding deliveries of combat aircraft, air defence systems, ships, and submarines.
  • As a result, it is essential for India to diversify its base in order to avoid being overly reliant on a single nation, which could constitute a leverage point for that country.

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