India and Russia are seeking to expand their defence partnership beyond traditional arms sales, moving towards joint production, technology transfers and next‑generation weapons development.

The modernisation of BrahMos missiles and Russia’s offer to transfer technology for Su‑57 stealth fighter jets have emerged as central themes in this evolving relationship.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS summit, where their warm exchange was highlighted by Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal as evidence of a bond that continues to strengthen.

Analysts observed that the meeting reflected a recalibration of defence ties, with emphasis on industrial collaboration and export‑oriented weapons development.

Former diplomat Srikumar Menon noted that discussions on BrahMos modernisation and Su‑57 technology transfer demonstrated the growing maturity and strategic sophistication of bilateral defence cooperation.

India has long relied on Russian equipment, but in recent years has diversified purchases from France, the United States and Israel to access advanced technologies and reduce risks linked to Russia’s supply chain disruptions during the Ukraine war.

Menon explained that Western sanctions since 2022 have restricted Russia’s access to advanced components, which in turn affected supplies to India. This has encouraged both nations to pursue joint production, localisation and technology transfer under India’s Make in India program launched in 2014.

The BrahMos missile system exemplifies this approach. Capable of travelling at three times the speed of sound and being launched from land, sea, air or underwater, it has already attracted export interest. 

The Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam have signed agreements to acquire the system, while Malaysia has initiated exploratory talks. No new contract was announced after the Modi‑Putin meeting, but S Balakrishnan of the Indic Researchers Forum said the talks elevated the political priority of next‑generation BrahMos work already underway.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that both nations are jointly producing BrahMos missiles and emphasised the need to improve them with additional characteristics to enhance competitiveness and effectiveness.

Proposals include a lighter variant for TEJAS jets, a submarine‑launched version and a hypersonic model capable of reaching five times the speed of sound. Balakrishnan argued that the next step should be to move from joint production of existing weapons to joint development of future systems.

India’s fighter fleet is another major focus. Discussions include a ₹91,300 crore program to upgrade the Su‑30MKI fleet, which remains the backbone of the Indian Air Force, alongside Russia’s proposal for joint development of the Su‑57 stealth fighter.

India is also developing its own fifth‑generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, but faces challenges in securing an engine. Former Air Marshal Ravi Gopal Krishna Kapoor highlighted that General Electric had reportedly tripled the price of the GE‑414 engine, while delays with the GE‑404 engine for the TEJAS MK‑1A raised doubts about achieving a first flight for the AMCA by 2028‑29.

Kapoor stressed that with China and Pakistan strengthening their air forces with fifth‑generation fighters and robust air defence, India urgently requires a stealth fighter. He suggested that the Su‑57 could partly bridge India’s stealth gap before 2030‑31, especially as Delhi appears unlikely to opt for US‑made F‑35s.

Talks with France over 114 Rafale jets have stalled due to Paris’ refusal to share core software source codes, creating an opening for Moscow. However, Kapoor cautioned against overstating the Su‑57’s capabilities, noting that only about 30 have been built and that the aircraft has yet to demonstrate significant impact in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

He concluded that a limited Indian purchase could be considered if Russia agreed to share the Su‑57’s source code, underscoring the central issue of whether India and Russia can transform decades of arms cooperation into deeper technological and industrial collaboration.

Agencies