Russian Arms Supplies to India Worth $13 bn in past 5 years: Russian state news agencies reported that India received arms worth around $13 billion from Russia in the past five years. Additionally, New Delhi has placed orders with Moscow for more than $10 billion in weaponry and military equipment.
India’s Current Military Order From Moscow:
India accounts for around 20 percent of Moscow’s current order book and is the world’s biggest buyer of Russian arms. Although the Russian invasion of Ukraine has not been explicitly denounced in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged for dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
India, China: Interest in buying Russian arms:
Dmitry Shugayev, the head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told the agencies that India, China and some Southeast Asian countries have continued to have interest in buying Russian arms.
The agency reported that annual arms exports have been about $14-15 billion, with the order book steady at around $50 billion.
Russia’s S-400 Triumf missile defence systems, short-range surface-to-air missiles systems such as the Osa, Pechora or Strela, as well as Su-30 warplanes, MiG-29 helicopters and drones have been of special interest to Asian countries, Shugayev said.
Russia’s Counter to The Western sanctions:
Notably, following Ukraine’s invasion, several Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia, including on arms. Moscow has maintained that it is carrying out a “special military operation”.
The 14th international aerospace exhibition Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru will feature 200 samples of weapons and military equipment, according to the state-run TASS news agency. India is scouting for billions of dollars worth of military planes, completing jetliner deals to meet civilian demand and pressing global aircraft manufacturers to produce more locally at the show this week.
