India's defense trade with Russia is changing: Report

India Dec 04, 2025

India's defense relationship with Russia is undergoing a quiet transformation.
While Russian arms once made up nearly 80% of India's imports, that number has dropped to 36% over the last five years.
Still, India now leans more on Russia for high-tech missile systems and air-defense gear—missiles alone accounted for 38% of recent imports.

What else is changing?

India's buying strategy is getting more diverse. Imports of Russian armored vehicles have ticked up a bit, but naval weapons and ships from Russia have dropped sharply.
This points to India building more at home and teaming up with countries like France, the US, and Israel.
Plus, during talks with President Putin, India is expected to discuss Russia's Su-57 stealth fighter.