While 19 agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade have been signed, there has been no breakthrough in cooperation involving the Su-57 (pictured) or Russia’s S-500 air defense system. File | Photo credit: Reuters
Russia’s latest proposal to expand defense cooperation – including offers of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet, drones and submarines – has been met with a tepid response from India, officials familiar with the matter said.
The senior official said that in preparation for President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India, Moscow has repeatedly promoted platforms such as the Geran series of kamikaze drones, submarines and aircraft.
“India has not shown much interest in the equipment offered by Russia. The Russians expected a lot of movement on the sidelines of the visit and are still going ahead with proposals. We are very focused on developing domestic products,” the official said.
Despite high expectations, the much-watched defense statements during Putin’s visit did not materialize. While 19 agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade have been signed, there has been no breakthrough in cooperation involving the Su-57 or Russia’s S-500 air defense system.
The restrained response comes at a time when India is making an aggressive push towards self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing.
Dedicating 125 newly completed projects of the Border Communications Organization (BRO) to the nation in Leh on Sunday (December 7, 2025), Defense Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the transformation of domestic capability.
A paradigm shift
He pointed out that India, once heavily dependent on arms imports, now boasts a record defense output of ₹1.51 trillion, up from ₹46,000 crore in 2014. Defense exports have grown from less than ₹1,000 crore to nearly ₹24,000 crore in a decade. It reflects a paradigm shift.
Geran drones – Russia’s original variant of Iran’s Shahed-136 kamikaze drone – have played a major role in Moscow’s low-cost attrition strategy in Ukraine, enabling massed salvo attacks. But Indian manufacturers and services have not shown interest in acquiring them.
Earlier on October 29, the 23rd meeting of the working group of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation was held in Moscow. Co-chaired by Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defense Production) and Andrey A. Boytsov, First Deputy Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), they covered tri-service cooperation and defense research and development.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a protocol outlining new areas of cooperation and mutual growth – although agreements to protect big-ticket items remain elusive.
Published – 10 Dec 2025 23:45 IST
