India and Russia share a deep-rooted, multifaceted strategic partnership that spans decades, built on mutual trust and cooperation. The all – weather friendship, which began during the Cold War, has flourished across multiple sectors including defence, energy, trade, technology, and so on. Today, this partnership continues to thrive, with an increasing focus on defence and military collaboration.
One of the most prominent examples of this enduring alliance is Russia’s role in supporting India’s defence modernization. Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, has been a key player in delivering cutting-edge defence systems to India, including aircraft, missiles, and naval assets.
Su-57E: A New Chapter in Fighter Aviation
For the first time, India’s skies will witness one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jets, Russia’s Su-57, making its debut at Aero India 2025. This historic appearance marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to modernize its air force. Developed by Sukhoi, the Su-57 is a fifth-generation fighter promises to bring cutting-edge technology to India’s defence landscape, offering a glimpse into the future of air combat.
The Su-57’s participation in Aero India is poised to influence India’s defence procurement decisions, especially as the Indian Air Force (IAF) evaluates its options for next-generation fighters.
The Sukhoi Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to engage air, ground and naval targets. The Su-57 features stealth technology with extensive use of composite materials, can achieve supersonic cruising speeds and is equipped with cutting-edge onboard electronic systems, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), a radar system spread across its body and other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.
Enhancing the Indian Navy’s Capabilities
Rosoboronexport handed over Project 11356 frigate, named Tushil, to the Indian Navy in December 2024. Tushil became the seventh Project 11356 frigate in the Indian Navy, suggesting the high effectiveness demonstrated by these ships and high confidence of the Indian Navy in Russia’s defence industry. The first six ships of the project are intensively and successfully performing their assigned tasks in various regions of the world’s ocean and have deserved high praise from the Indian Navy’s sailors and commanders.
“Raising the Indian flag on the Tushil ship is another significant milestone in the Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation, which fully complies with the principles of the Make in India program. The Russian-built frigate carries 20 Indian-made hull systems and is equipped with the BrahMos supersonic missile system. Besides, ROSOBORONEXPORT and India are implementing about 10 joint naval projects alone and are discussing several new ones”, – said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of ROSOBORONEXPORT.
Advancing Military Technology and Make in India
Russia’s military partnership with India goes beyond just supplying hardware. When implementing military-technical cooperation projects, Russia and India are focused on technological partnership, which is in line with the Make in India and Self-Reliant India programs. ROSOBORONEXPORT has been successfully fulfilling licensing contracts in India for years, for example, for Su-30MKI fighters, armored vehicles and ammunition.
The Kalashnikov AK-203 is now being manufactured in India through a joint venture between Rosoboronexport and Kalashnikov Group. This project, which aims for 100% localization, fits perfectly within India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiatives.
Additionally, ROSOBORONEXPORT JSC has established manufacturing of 3VBM17 Mango armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS) rounds in India. The ammunition is designed to defeat armored vehicles fitted with composite armor. The project is being implemented under the Make in India program.
The 125mm Mango round is designed to be fired from the guns of T-72 and T-90 MBTs. Various versions of these combat vehicles are in service with the Indian Army.
Rosoboronexport’s Presence at Global Defence Expos
Rosoboronexport delivered a remarkable showcase of advanced military technology at both Airshow China 2024 and Vietnam Defence Expo 2024, emphasizing Russia’s leadership in modern warfare capabilities. At Airshow China, the company highlighted its cutting-edge air-launched ordnance, including the stealth missile Kh-69, anti-radar missile Kh-59UShKE, and GROM-E1 guided missile, as well as innovative smart bombs. The Su-57E fighter, Ka-52E helicopter with integrated weapons, and the S-350E Vityaz air defense system captivated visitors with their impressive capabilities.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, Rosoboronexport introduced the Typhoon-K MRAP vehicle with an automated Kornet-EM ATGM launcher for the first time abroad. Other notable displays included the Iskander-E theater missile system, T-90MS tank, Msta-S self-propelled howitzer, and the Lancet-E loitering munition system, which made its Southeast Asia debut. The company also exhibited cutting-edge UAV systems, such as the Orlan-10-E and Orlan-30 drones, alongside the Kalashnikov AK-200 series rifles, Chukavin sniper rifle, and other specialized weapons, showcasing Russia’s commitment to enhancing defence cooperation with countries like China and Vietnam.
With strong participation at international defence events like Zhuhai, Hanoi, and Aero India, Russia demonstrates its powerful return to the global defence expo scene, and reinforcing its position as a key player in global defence.
A Strong Strategic Foundation
The India-Russia defence partnership has evolved significantly. Recent high-level visits, including Prime Minister Modi’s trip to Moscow, reaffirm the importance of this relationship. With ongoing cooperation in defence, energy, and technology, Russia remains a vital partner in India’s modernization efforts, and future projects promise to further strengthen this enduring alliance.
