Russia and India have reached a final agreement to produce the technology and spare parts needed for the maintenance of Russian-made weapons and military hardware within India, officials confirmed on Friday during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi.
Analysts say the decision marks a significant deepening of Moscow–New Delhi defense cooperation. For years, segments of the Indian Armed Forces have complained of delays and complications when seeking technical support from Russia for the upkeep of Russian weapons—most notably the much-discussed S-400 missile system.
According to a joint statement issued by the two countries, technology, components, and spare parts required for the maintenance of Russian military hardware will now be manufactured in India under the “Make in India” initiative. The statement adds that both countries will be able to jointly export these India-made components to third countries. The two sides will also collaborate on developing more advanced military technologies.
A large portion of the weaponry and technology currently used by the Indian military has been sourced from Russia. Until now, importing maintenance-related technology often caused delays and affected the operational readiness of military systems. Officials expect that the new arrangement will greatly reduce such complications.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov held talks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, where the two discussed emerging opportunities in defense cooperation, joint production ventures, and future procurement plans.
In 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion contract with Russia to purchase five S-400 missiles. Despite strong objections from the United States, the contract moved forward, and India has already received three of the systems. The S-400 reportedly played an important role in the country’s recent Sindoor operations.
India has also expressed interest in acquiring Russia’s more advanced S-500 missile system. Maintenance technology for both the S-400 and S-500 systems is also expected to be produced domestically in the future.
Sources: Indian Express, PTI, Deccan Herald, The Telegraph India.