Since more than half of the Indian Armed Forces’ equipment is Russian-made, the nation’s strategic alliance with Russia is vital.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference in Qingdao on Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh discussed ways to further their bilateral defense cooperation.
In his discussion with Singh, Belousov stated, “India is a traditional friend, a partner in the military and military-technical spheres, and an extremely important strategic partner for us,” according to the Russian Ministry of Defense (RuMoD).
Belousov and Singh held “insightful deliberations on boosting India-Russia defense ties,” Singh wrote on X.
Interestingly, both nations seem dedicated to deepening their military cooperation, particularly after Russian weaponry helped India defeat Pakistan in Operation Sindoor last month.
In addition to destroying aircraft hangars and radar stations, BrahMos, the fastest supersonic missile in the world and a joint Russo-Indian project, severely damaged Pakistani airstrips, creating deep holes in several places.
Additionally, during the four days of fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the S-400 air defense system was crucial in protecting Indian military installations from a flurry of Pakistani drone and missile strikes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the S-400’s effectiveness during Operation Sindoor, visiting the Adampur airfield shortly after India and Pakistan declared an end to hostilities on May 10.
Furthermore, retired Major Manik M. Jolly, a veteran of the Indian Army, stated that there has been a noticeable pro-Russian mood in India following Operation Sindoor.
According to him, the Indo-Russian strategic relationship in the defense sector holds significant promise for the future.
According to Jolly, the Indian Air Force (IAF) would gain a lot from acquiring SU-57 fighter jets because of their superior maneuverability and stealth. The defense analyst emphasized that the IAF has the strongest argument for acquiring and integrating this aircraft because it is affordable and ready to fly.
“The 3M22 Zircon missile hypersonic mission can be very beneficial to India in the development of Brahmos-II, aside from aircraft. Brahmos’ speed and capabilities would be significantly increased by switching from a ramjet to a scramjet propulsion system, Jolly claimed.
He noted that in order to improve India’s offensive range and strategy, Russia and India must continue to develop hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs).
Girish Linganna, a military analyst based in Bengaluru, thinks that Russia’s expertise in developing hypersonic weapons, such as the R-37M, can help India achieve its objectives. In line with India’s drive for independence, cooperation can involve knowledge transfer and domestic manufacturing, accelerating the development of sophisticated missiles, he told Sputnik India.
“Russia may offer sophisticated radar systems, such as the Container-S or Voronezh, for counter-drone systems that can identify drones and stealth threats at a great distance. In addition to meeting pressing Air Force needs, these collaborations might involve cooperative development and manufacture,” Linganna said.
