During the Vladimir Putin’s visit in India, the leaders of India and Russia has signed various military agreements including renewing of military-technical cooperation between Russia and India for a further period of 10 years till 2031.
Russia also signed an important agreement with India to manufacture 6.1 Lakhs most advanced AK-203 Assault Rifles jointly at Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
A joint venture company called Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd. (IRRPL) is going to manufacture the entire AK-203 Assault Rifles in India and the estimated cost of the same are about ₹5,000 crores.
India signed various military agreements with Russia in such a time when India has been facing unprovoked military aggression from China in Ladakh and other Indo China border areas.
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Both countries are now seriously discussing about Navy-to-Navy co-operation, bilateral logistics support deal Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics and to collaborate with each other to increase the global and regional trust.
By signing an AK-203 Assault Rifles agreement, Russia once again proved that they are ready to transfer modern military technology to their all weather friend to India in future also.
Earlier Russia has already been provided modern technologies of Nuclear Submarine, Supersonic cruise missiles, Vikramaditya Aircraft carrier, T-90 Main Battle Tank and SU-30 Fighter Aircrafts.
As India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), India and Russia are now planning to jointly develop a new generation of BrahMos missiles with 600 km-plus range and an ability to hit protected targets with pinpoint accuracy.
Ever since India began enhance their relationship with U.S. and importing modern arms from U.S., Israel, France, U.K., Vladimir Putin regime very much upset about the same. At the time. many political pundits predicted that the bilateral relationship between India and Russia get affected in a severe manner in future.
Contrary to their expectation, Indo-Russia relationship have been growing steadily and India is still heavily depended on Russian arms and ammunitions.
Though India has been diversifying its arms imports from U.S, Israel, France, U.K., etc., still 70% of Indian military weapons are either from former Soviet Union or Russian origin only. Hence, India is still heavily dependent on Russia for spare parts of its Soviet/Russian origin arms.
List of major USSR/Russian military assets Indian military acquired/going to be acquired:-
- Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya
- attack submarine Chakra II
- T-90 main battle Tank
- T-72 main battle tank
- Su30 MKI fighter jets
- Mig 29 Fighter Jets
- Mig 21 Fighter Jets
- Mig 27 Fighter Jets
- Brahmos Nuclear-capable supersonic cruise missile jointly produced by India and Russia.
- S-400 long range surface-to-air missile system.
- AK-103 assault rifles which is an upgraded version of deadly AK-47 Assault Rifles.
- AK-203 series of Assault Rifles are going to produce in India)
Recently Russia began delivery of S-400 long range Surface-to-air missile system to India which is much more advanced and cheaper than the U.S.’s Pratriot (MIM-104) long-range air defense system.
By maintaining good relationship with Russia, India has proved that India is able to maintain cordial bilateral and military relationship with world Super Power countries like U.S. and Russia simultaneously.
Both countries are now expanding their regional security co-operation to avert the terrorism threat from Afghanistan. That was the main reason, recently Russia and India took the initiative in conducting a Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan.