Russia Ready to Supply All Necessary Weaponry: What Could be India's Wishlist?
12:03 20.11.2025 (Updated: 12:08 20.11.2025)
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev
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Russia is ready to supply India with all the necessary weaponry to ensure its security, said Sergey Chemezov, the head of the country's state defence giant Rostec, on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow this week.
"We have strong relations with India, and whatever India requires, we are here to support. India and Russia have been partners for many years. Even when India was under sanctions, we supplied the country with weapons to ensure its security. Today, we continue the same approach as in previous years, supplying India with whatever military equipment it needs and ensuring our mutual interests in developing cooperation," Chemezov stated.
With the Rostec chief offering India an olive branch to pick and choose weapons of its liking to procure from Russia, a long list of military equipment from New Delhi awaits Moscow, given the pace of modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces, according to Harpreet Sidhu, an analyst specialising in aerospace, defence, and security at the London-headquartered GlobalData Plc.
He asserted that New Delhi's shopping list will likely prioritise systems that fill immediate operational gaps while remaining cost-effective, and the key categories could include:
He asserted that New Delhi's shopping list will likely prioritise systems that fill immediate operational gaps while remaining cost-effective, and the key categories could include:
1.
Long-Range Strike & Missiles: Additional BrahMos variants, Kalibr-class cruise missiles for naval platforms, and possibly inputs for hypersonic R&D cooperation.2.
Air-Defence Systems: More units of the S-400, discussions on next-generation layered air-defence solutions.3.
Fighter Fleet Support: Spares and engine modules for Su-30MKI, avionics upgrades, and possibly renewed talks on Su-30MKI Super Upgrade packages.4.
Naval Platforms: Assistance in frigate production (Grigorovich-class derivatives), submarine components for the Kilo-class, and technologies for conventional Air-Independent Propulsion-based boats.5.
Armoured Platforms: Spares and upgrade kits for T-90S, thermal imaging systems, active protection suites, and engine/transmission improvements.6.
Space, Electronic Warfare & Counter-Drone Suites: Russia may offer satellite-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) support, electronic warfare suites, and anti-drone systems, given India's rising border requirements."In short, the demand would centre on upgrades, spares, and deep-tech cooperation rather than large new purchases—given India’s diversification policy and Make in India focus," Sidhu emphasised.
The military affairs commentator suggested that expanded Russian supplies could accelerate joint production lines in India. Still, such ventures would come with a caveat, which is if the model mirrors BrahMos: equal stakes, clear technology transfer, and exports built into the business plan.
A surge in Russian supplies could push both sides to:
Localise high-value components, reducing India's logistics dependence amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Expand joint ventures in missiles, aircraft upgrades, and shipbuilding—areas where the two sides already share legacy interoperability.
Accelerate co-development of next-gen systems (e.g., long-range precision weapons, EW suites, submarine technologies).
Enable exports to third countries, replicating BrahMos' success with the Philippines.
