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BackIndia and Russia seek deeper defence ties beyond arms sales
India and Russia seek deeper defence ties beyond arms sales
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SCMP Economy1 hour agoDefense1 min readChina

India and Russia seek deeper defence ties beyond arms sales

indiarussiadefence

Quick Look

India and Russia are working to transform their long-standing defence relationship from simple arms sales into a technology-driven industrial partnership, with discussions on BrahMos missile upgrades and Su-57 stealth jet technology transfer signaling a strategic shift ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

India and Russia have maintained a long-standing defence relationship, with Russia being a major arms supplier to India for decades.

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Analysts say offers of Su-57 stealth jet tech and BrahMos upgrades signal an exit from simple buyer-seller deals

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Published: 11:00am, 16 Sep 2026Updated: 11:01am, 16 Sep 2026

India and Russia are seeking to push one of Asia’s oldest defence relationships beyond arms sales and into a more technology-driven industrial partnership, analysts have said, with missile exports and fighter-jet offers emerging as early tests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shook hands and embraced on Friday ahead of last weekend’s Brics summit in New Delhi, prompting Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to post on social media: “A bond that keeps growing stronger!”

Analysts said the meeting pointed to a deeper recalibration of defence ties, as Delhi and Moscow explored more joint production, technology transfer and export-focused weapons development.

Srikumar Menon, a former Indian diplomat, said discussions on modernising BrahMos missiles and Moscow’s offer of technology transfer for Su-57 stealth fighter jets to India showed “the growing maturity, depth and strategic sophistication” of India-Russia defence cooperation.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • India and Russia will finalize agreements on BrahMos missile upgrades and Su-57 technology transfer within the next 6 months.

    Likely · Within months

Open Questions

  • What specific technology will be transferred under the Su-57 offer?
  • When will joint production of upgraded BrahMos missiles begin?
  • How will this deepened defence ties affect India's relationships with other defence partners like the US or France?

Related Topics

india
PeopleVladimir PutinNarendra ModiPiyush GoyalSrikumar Menon
OrganizationsGovernment of RussiaGovernment of India
PlacesNew DelhiIndiaRussia
Topicsrussiadefencebrahmossu-57technology transferjoint production
This article was originally published by SCMP Economy.

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