Over the last five years, Russia has sold India armaments worth around $13 billion, and New Delhi has placed orders with Moscow for military hardware worth more than $10 billion, according to Russian state news agencies late on Sunday.
India, which accounts for 20% of Moscow’s current order book, is the world’s largest purchaser of Russian weapons, and New Delhi has not officially denounced Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The dispute, which is now in its 12th month, has been resolved via negotiation and diplomacy, according to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Numerous Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion, which Moscow refers to as a “special military operation,” including restrictions on the export of armaments.
According to Dmitry Shugayev, the head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, India, China, and certain Southeast Asian nations have retained their interest in purchasing Russian armaments.
“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,”Shugayev was reported as saying by Interfax.
According to Interfax, annual armament shipments were around $14–15 billion, while the order book has remained stable at about $50 billion.
According to Shugayev, Asian buyers are particularly interested in Russian S-400 Triumf missile defence systems, Osa, Pechora, and Strela short-range surface-to-air missile systems, Su-30 fighter jets, MiG-29 helicopters, and drones.
- According to the official news agency of Russia, TASS, at the 14th international aerospace show Aero India 2023, which starts on Monday in Bengaluru, Russia will display roughly 200 examples of weaponry and military hardware.
India is looking for military aircraft worth billions of dollars, closing deals on jetliners to suit civilian demand, and pressuring international aviation makers to increase local production during the exhibition this week.