Russia has supplied India with weapons worth $13 billion in last five years

• Russia has supplied India with around $13 billion in weaponry.
• Military equipment worth more than $10 billion.
• India is the world’s largest importer of Russian weaponry.

Russian state news media reported late on Sunday that Russia has supplied India with around $13 billion in weaponry over the last five years, and that New Delhi has placed orders with Moscow for weapons and military equipment worth more than $10 billion.

India is the world’s largest importer of Russian weaponry, accounting for roughly 20% of Moscow’s current order book, and the Indian government has not openly criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for talks and diplomacy to end the 12-month conflict.

In response to the invasion, which Moscow describes as a “special military operation,” dozens of Western countries placed sanctions on Russia, including penalties on weaponry.

According to Dmitry Shugayev, the head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, India, China, and several Southeast Asian countries have retained their interest in purchasing Russian armaments.

Russia’s main partners

“Despite the unprecedented pressure on India from Western countries led by the United States in connection with Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, it continues to be one of Russia’s main partners in the field of military-technical cooperation,” Interfax agency quoted Shugayev as saying.

According to Interfax, annual arms shipments were around $14-15 billion, while the order book has remained stable at roughly $50 billion.

Shugayev stated that Asian buyers are particularly interested in Russia’s S-400 Triumf missile defense systems, short-range surface-to-air missile systems such as the Osa, Pechora, or Strela, as well as Su-30 aircraft, MiG-29 helicopters, and drones.

According to the Russian state news agency TASS, Russia will display over 200 samples of armaments and military equipment at the 14th international aerospace show Aero India 2023, which begins on Monday in Bengaluru.

At the show this week, India is looking for military planes worth billions of dollars, finalizing jetliner deals to suit civilian demand, and pressuring global aviation makers to build more locally.

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