India has sharply reduced orders for defense equipment from Russia and is now buying more from Western suppliers. It is reported Bloomberg.
Only 36% of India's weapons came from Russia last year, compared to 76% in 2009. This is a significant change in policy for a country that has traditionally supplied weapons from Moscow.
India and Russia's plans to jointly develop and manufacture helicopters and advanced fighter jets have been shelved earlier, according to senior Indian officials with direct knowledge of the situation.
In addition, the proposal to lease a submarine from Russia for training the Indian crew is also unlikely to be implemented, officials said. India builds its own ships.
The only thing New Delhi has yet to receive from Moscow is two warships and anti-missile shield batteries. India ordered them from Russia even before the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The divestment of Russian weapons underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to reduce dependence on Moscow, even as his government continues to buy cheap energy from Russia and provide diplomatic support to the Russian president.
According to SIPRI, India is now buying more weapons from Western companies and trying to produce its own with the support of the US and France. Over the past two decades, Washington has eased restrictions that prevent developing countries from accessing advanced technologies.
Since 2018, India has awarded contracts worth nearly $20 billion for products made in the states, according to reports US Congressional Research Service.
In October this year, the South Asian country agreed to a deal worth more than $3 billion for 31 long-range drones manufactured by US defense giant General Atomics.
India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and US-based General Electric Co are also close to signing an agreement to jointly produce an improved version of jet engines for light combat aircraft. The authorities agreed on the terms of the partnership during Modi's state visit to the US last year.
However, New Delhi and Moscow will continue to jointly produce rifles and missiles. Russia is still the largest supplier of military equipment to the South Asian country.
Also, India, as before, depends on Russia in the matter of nuclear potential.
"Russia remains the only country that offers its nuclear submarines to India. India's partnership with the West will be incomplete until both sides find a way to discuss nuclear issues." - summed up Anit Mukherjee, a senior lecturer at King's College London, who specializes in India's military and foreign policy.
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