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Revolutionary Russian Weapons: Game-Changers That Could Transform India's Defence

© Sputnik / Nina Padalko / Go to the mediabankThe Russian Sukhoi SU-57 E fighter jet performs during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
The Russian Sukhoi SU-57 E fighter jet performs during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China - Sputnik India, 1920, 14.08.2025
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Following the success of the Russian-acquired military platforms in the recent India-Pakistan conflict, New Delhi is looking forward to inducting a wide variety of other weapon systems from Moscow, as per reports.
The induction of Russia's primary stealth aircraft, Su-57, alongside the long-range R-37 missile, which is better known as the AWACS killer, and the S-500 air defence system could prove to be game-changers for the Indian military, a Russian expert has said.
According to statements by various Indian officials and leading media outlets, New Delhi is currently considering the possibility of continuing to purchase primarily new regimental sets of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, Igor Korotchenko, the Director of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade, and the editor-in-chief of the Russian "National Defense" magazine, told Sputnik India.
"This is due to the successes that the Indian armed forces achieved using the S-400 during the recent large-scale armed conflict between India and Pakistan. It was there that the advantages of having Russian long-range S-400 anti-aircraft systems in the Indian armed forces' arsenal were demonstrated. And they proved to be extremely effective in repelling attacks by the Pakistani Air Force," he underlined.
It is no coincidence that during a visit to one of the Indian armed forces bases, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a keynote speech on the geopolitical conclusions, lessons and future vector of India's movement in light of the conflict with Pakistan, summing up the military and political results of this conflict against the backdrop of deployed S-400 launchers and noting their high efficiency, the military analyst highlighted.
A major contract for S-400 is currently being implemented. It provides for the delivery of five regimental sets of S-400 systems to India, a contract worth more than $5 billion. And Russia does not see any restrictions on continuing large-scale cooperation with Indian partners, specifically in the area of deliveries of these modern long-range air defense and missile defense systems. This is, first of all, the strategic goal-setting of Indian politicians and the military, Korotchenko pointed out.
At the same time, the S-400 significantly exceeds the capabilities of its closest competitor, the American Patriot PAC-3. Moreover, the desire for large-scale rearmament, primarily on the S-400, of course, confirms expert assessments of the advantages and technological superiority of Russia over the United States in long-range air defense systems, and Operation Sindoor clearly and distinctly demonstrated the vector of interests, he added.
In addition to the contract for five regimental sets, India is still planning and, at least, has declared its readiness to purchase another 3 to 5 of the same S-400 regimental sets. Thus, in the near historical perspective, their number will be from 8 to 10 S-400 regimental sets. At present, India is completely satisfied and intends to develop its air defense capabilities primarily based on S-400 technologies, including through further modifications and improvements of this potential together with Russia, the defence pundit reckoned.
"Considering that relations between Russia and India are of a strategic nature, I can say that no large-scale contracts can be ruled out, including the most modern ones, in the future. Of course, the weapons system (S-500) is the subject of specific political agreements between the leaders of the two states. We are ready to meet our Indian partners halfway, as far as Delhi is ready for such interaction with the Russian Federation," Korotchenko underscored.
Regarding the Su-57E, the main thing that Russia offers India in accordance with the MII program is the transfer of technologies and joint development, design and organization of serial production at the facilities of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) of a two-seater version, this is a mandatory requirement of the Indian Air Force (IAF), a fifth-generation fighter based on the technological package of solutions for the Su-57, he explained.
Integration there of all those capabilities and achievements that India has, including the transfer of technology for the production of an onboard radar with an active phased antenna array, with the integration into the elements of the future Indian fifth-generation fighter of all those technological solutions, including in the field of missile weapons and high-precision air weapons, which are within India's competence, the strategic affairs commentator remarked.
"A complete transfer of technologies is a unique offer. In fact, India will become a country-manufacturer at its own aviation facilities of an Indian fifth-generation fighter, which will be based on the accumulated experience of Russian developers on the Su-57. I say again, the two-seater version, the Indian Air Force needs it. This is a unique offer; no one else will make it," Korotchenko stressed.
In principle, the entire historical experience of interaction between Russia, the Soviet Union earlier, and India, then Russia and India in the field of aviation combat equipment testifies to the very high quality of this cooperation, starting with the transfer of technology for the production of the MiG-21, etc. All this has made India a first-class military and aviation power, he noted.
Besides the joint development and transfer of technology for the fifth-generation fighter, Russia can offer its Indian partners the readiness to modernize the existing fleet of Su-30MKI fighters in the IAF. In this regard, Russia is ready to cooperate along with fifth-generation fighters and to modernize the Su-30MKI fleet with its maximum approximation to the capabilities of the most modern multi-role fighters, the analyst suggested.
Also, Russian proposals include, among other things, the development and production of modern Russian guided air missiles in India. The platforms for integrating the new AWS can be both the Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters, and Indian-developed aircraft (Tejas, AMCA, etc), the observer emphasised.
"The export version of the R-37M missile is called RVV-BD. This missile has very good prospects in India, primarily because Russia is ready to offer New Delhi joint production of this type of weapon. This is extremely important as there are no obstacles to the joint production of this long-range missile," Korotchenko asserted.
This will be the long-range arm of the IAF, that is, if the fleet of Indian combat aircraft, having received this missile, significantly strengthens its combat capabilities, including in the long-range zone, which is extremely important for maintaining the geopolitical balance in the region and determining the status of India as a great power, he elaborated.
The low-observable cruise missile Kh-69 of the new generation, the RVV-MD2 and RVV-BD missiles for hitting air targets, the Kh-35UE for hitting warships and transport vessels, and the Kh-38MLE for high-precision hitting ground targets. These missiles have proven their high efficiency in real combat conditions, and these projectiles, including the RVV-BD, can be included in the armament systems of 4++ and 5th-generation fighters of both Russia and India, he concluded.
Anti-aircraft defense system S-400 Triumph  - Sputnik India, 1920, 12.08.2025
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