Russia and India Fortify Defence Ties with Joint Manufacturing Plans

Russia and India have agreed to enhance their defence cooperation by promoting joint manufacturing of military hardware and spare parts in India. This move aims to address supply issues of critical spares from Russia and boost India's defense capabilities under the Make-in-India program. The collaboration also envisions setting up joint ventures for Indian armed forces and third-country exports.

In a significant development on Friday, Russia agreed to promote joint manufacturing of military hardware and spare parts in India. This agreement comes as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, underscored during summit talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Acknowledging the long-standing delays in the supply of critical Russian military equipment, the joint statement announced plans for joint manufacturing of spare parts within India under the Make-in-India initiative, facilitated by transfer of technology. The agreement also proposes the establishment of joint ventures to serve the requirements of Indian armed forces and to facilitate exports to allied nations.

The Modi-Putin discussions extended to a broad range of collaborations, including joint co-development of advanced defence systems and exploration of additional Russian missile systems. The partnership also encompasses financial collaborations involving national currency trade settlements and potential free trade agreements, marking a significant shift in Indo-Russian economic and strategic relations.

(With inputs from agencies.)