India Gives Up Russian Weapons

India has dramatically reduced orders for defense equipment from Russia and is now buying more from Western suppliers, Bloomberg reports.

Last year only 36% of India's weapons were supplied by Russia, while in 2009 it was 76%. This is a significant change in the policy of the country, which has traditionally been supplied with weapons from Moscow.

India and Russia's plans to jointly develop and manufacture helicopters and advanced fighter jets have been shelved, according to senior Indian officials with direct knowledge of the situation.

Besides, the proposal to lease a submarine from Russia to train an Indian crew is also unlikely to materialize, officials said. India is building its own vessels.

The only thing New Delhi has not yet received from Moscow are two warships and anti-missile shield batteries. India ordered them from Russia before the start of full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022.

The divestment of Russian weapons underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to reduce his dependence on Moscow, even as his government continues to buy cheap energy from Russia and provide diplomatic support to the Russian president.

According to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India is increasingly buying weapons from Western companies and is trying to produce its own with the support of the US and France. Over the past two decades, Washington has eased restrictions that bar developing countries from accessing advanced technology.

Since 2018, India has signed contracts worth nearly $20 billion for US-made defense products, according to a report by the US Congressional Research Service.

In October this year, the South Asian country struck a deal worth more than $3 billion for 31 MQ-9B Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles manufactured by US defense giant General Atomics.

India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics and America's General Electric are also close to signing a deal to jointly produce an advanced version of jet engines for light combat aircraft. The officials agreed on the terms of the partnership during Modi's state visit to the US last year.

But New Delhi and Moscow continue to jointly produce small arms and missiles. Russia is still the largest supplier of military equipment to the South Asian country.

Moreover, India remains dependent on the Russian Federation for its nuclear potential.

"Russia remains the only country to offer India its nuclear submarines. New Delhi's partnership with Western countries will be incomplete until both countries find a way to discuss nuclear issues,” added Anit Mukherjee, a senior lecturer at King's College London.