Posted in Military Matters

Russian military industry: 70% of India’s weapons are Soviet and Russian products

 2021年2月3日

Viktor Kradov, head of international cooperation and regional policy of the Russian State Technology Group (Rostec), said on the eve of the international air show “Aero India 2021” that more than 70% of the weapons of the three Indian armies are Soviet-Russian products, according to a release on the group’s website.

The exhibition will be held in Bangalore, India, from February 3 to 5.

Kradov noted that the Russian technology group will showcase many new products in Bangalore this year, including aviation equipment, air defense systems, armor, ammunition, as well as promising civilian projects in the field of electronics, engines and aircraft manufacturing.

According to Kradov, “In total, more than 200 models of military products are planned to be displayed, including Su-57E, Su-35 and MiG-35D fighter aircraft, IL-76MD-90A(E) military transport aircraft, IL-78MK-90A refueling aircraft and a variety of armed helicopters.”

Russian equipment accounts for 80 percent of India’s combat aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, MiG-29 multirole fighter, and Mi-17 military transport helicopters, Kradov said.

India is one of the main partners of Russian military-technical cooperation, with the local production of T-90 tanks, Su-30MKI fighter jets, Ka-226 helicopters, and Kalashnikov automatic rifles. 2019 news indicates that Russia intends to localize the production of MiG-35 fighter jets on Indian territory. In addition, India has the capability to upgrade Russian T-72M1 tanks as well as BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles.

Significant Russian contracts with India include the procurement of S-400 air defense missile systems and the 11356 frigate. Negotiations are currently nearing completion for the procurement of Russian K-226T helicopters and their local assembly in India. India intends to procure 200 helicopters from Russia, 40 of which will be imported directly and the remaining 160 will be assembled in India. Russia won the tender in 2018 to export the Super Needle (Igla-S) air defense missile system to India.