India turns to Western arms suppliers reducing reliance on Russia - Bloomberg report

Decision to scale back on Russian arms underscores PM Narendra Modi’s efforts to reduce dependency on Moscow

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India has significantly reduced its reliance on Russian military equipment, shifting towards Western suppliers as part of a broader strategy to diversify its defence partnerships, according to Bloomberg.

In 2022, Russia accounted for 36% of India's defence imports, a sharp decline from 76% in 2009. This marks a major shift for a country that has historically sourced a majority of its armaments from Moscow.

Plans for joint development projects between India and Russia, such as building helicopters and modern fighter jets, have been delayed. Additionally, a proposed lease of a Russian submarine to train Indian crews is now unlikely to proceed, with India focusing on constructing its own naval vessels.

Currently, New Delhi is awaiting the delivery of two warships and missile defence systems ordered from Russia before the Ukraine invasion.

The decision to scale back on Russian arms underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to reduce dependency on Moscow while continuing to purchase discounted energy and providing diplomatic support to Russia.

India is now turning to Western manufacturers and collaborating on domestic production. Since 2008, the country has signed contracts worth approximately US$20 billion with US suppliers.

In October 2024, India finalised a deal exceeding US$3 billion with General Atomics, an American defence company, for 31 long-range drones. Additionally, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and General Electric are close to sealing an agreement to co-develop advanced jet engines for light combat aircraft, following discussions during Modi’s state visit to the United States.

Despite the pivot, Moscow remains India’s leading arms supplier and a crucial partner in nuclear defence. Russia continues to offer nuclear submarines, a capability no Western ally has yet matched.

"Russia remains the only country which offers its nuclear submarines to India. India’s partnership with Western countries will be incomplete until both sides find a way to talk about nuclear issues," said Anit Mukherjee, a senior lecturer at King’s College London specialising in Indian military and foreign policy.

India’s shift away from Russian imports is also reflected in other sectors. Since the beginning of 2024, India, along with China and Turkiye, has significantly reduced purchases of Russian coal following the European Union's embargo on Russian energy.

India has also declined to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, citing Western sanctions. Despite these restrictions, India remains Russia's second-largest supplier of critical technologies after China, according to European and US officials.