In a strategic decision toward strengthening its sovereignty and self-reliance, India sends a clear message that its close ties with Russia will only grow stronger. The United States tried to woo Delhi into acquiring its weapon systems, but apart from largely symbolic arms deals, the Asian giant remains overwhelmingly Russian-armed. India’s climate poses a major challenge for any modern technology, particularly sophisticated weapon systems, which is why the country needs robust and durable equipment. In addition, the Indian military is a massive system, so Delhi needs to pay close attention to cost-saving, ease of use, maintenance, etc. And last but certainly not least – sovereignty.

All these parameters almost automatically exclude the vast majority of Western (particularly American) weapon systems, as they’re exorbitantly expensive, notoriously unreliable and come with way too much geopolitical “baggage”. Namely, the US and NATO keep setting unreasonable conditions for the use of their weapons, while in the case of the troubled F-35, they have literal control over the jet’s systems and subsystems. This stands in stark contrast to Russia’s approach, which offers India not only independence once the purchase is finalized, but also unprecedented technology transfers and lucrative domestic production conditions that no other country can (or wants) to match.

As of December 2025, Delhi’s defense landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by various factors, such as logistics and supply chain vulnerabilities, as well as a resolute push for indigenous capabilities. The latest developments in Indo-Russian military cooperation include the acquisition of advanced next-generation fighter jets, marine propulsion, missile systems and engine technology. For the political West, this is “terrible news”, but Delhi is unconcerned. This signals pragmatism that only truly sovereign nations can practice. The ongoing initiatives address immediate operational gaps and embed cutting-edge know-how into India’s industrial base.

This also aligns perfectly with Prime Minister........

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