Thread by @duke_notnukem

A thread on India's defence imports from Russia. Bottom line is: yes, India is importing less. But there's something a lot more interesting going on here. A thread. 1/

https://twitter.com/AmyJNelsonPhD/status/1509137102675533828

First, between 1991 and 2021, India has bought 62 individual pieces of individual defence platforms and supporting supporting equipment (@SIPRI Arms Transfers Database). 2/

Many of these platforms are one-time purchases. For example, naval guns and fire-control and navigation radars for the Delhi-class and Talwar-class surface ships. These might require purchase of servicing equipment but not on a regular basis. 3/

Then there are purchase of munitons and payloads for aircraft, motorized and portable SAM systems, ships and tanks. These are also long-term bulk purchases that are renewed one or twice a decade. 4/

A bulk of the expensive purchases are the MiG-29K and Su-30 MKI fighters and the T-90S MBTs. It is important to remember that the first batch of these platforms are imported as kits and assembled in India. Licenced production begins after that. 5/

Engines and powerplants bought for the above mentioned platforms are counted as separate purchases as they are from a different vendor. For example, India bought 660 Al-10 turbofan engines for the Su-30 MKI between 2013-21. 6/

Other big-ticket items counted as defence procurement between 2011-21 are the Mi-17 helicopters, Ka-226 light helicopters, BMP IFVs, S-400s and the Gorshkov aircraft carrier taken on lease. 7/

The procurement process of these big-ticket items will eventually be completed. India already retired the MiG-23 and the MiG-27 aircraft. The IAF will soon retire the problem child MiG-21s. That reduces the burden of acquiring spares from Russia. 8/

To replace retired Russian equipment, India will field the indigenous Tejas fighter alongside the French Rafael and potentially another fighter from the West. 9/

The Su-30MKI will remain the largest fleet of Russian aircraft operating in the IAF, next to the MiG-29K operated by the Indian Navy. may eventually be decommissioned in favour of the naval version of the Tejas or maybe even the American F/A-18. 10/

A vast majority of the artillery and SAM platforms operated by India are of the Soviet-era which are so unique that there are no equivalent substitutes. Newer, more capable platforms which perform similar either produced from India or imported can take over assigned missions. 11/

Coming to the aspect of munitions and payloads, India can take the indigenous route to develop our own systems and integrate them Russian platforms (Su-30MKI uses indigenous avionics). It may also be theoretically be possible to integrate non-Russian payloads. 12/

The Ministry of Defence has plans to replace ageing Russian platforms and take the indigenous path. Take the BMP upgrades, for example. The plan being to eventually replace the entire fleet of Russian IFVs. 13/
thewire.in/security/india…

In the recent news cycle, we have seen India take delivery of more Boeing P-8s which will eventually replace the small fleet of Russian Il-38s used for ASW role. 14/

A joint India-Israel medium-range SAM system was also tested recently, which will eventually take over missions assigned to the older Russian platforms currently carrying out SAM missions. 15/
indiatoday.in/india/story/in…

Setting aside the recent purchases of T-90s and Su-30MKIs, there is a pattern here which shows that there is a deliberate effort to reduce India's defence equipment dependence on Russia. More platforms being purchased from the West and small steps towards self-reliance. END/

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