India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) signed an MoU with UAC to produce the near-100-seat SJ-100 regional jet in India. Russian aviation giant UAC also signed a deal to supply six Ilyushin Il-114-300 aircraft to India’s Flamingo Aerospace.
Russia is also aggressively pushing India to co-produce the fifth–generation Su-57 fighter aircraft. Russia and India are working closely on air defence systems such as the S-400 and the BrahMos missiles, both world-class military products.
There are many other areas of joint work in space, submarines, and nuclear fields.
The US and the West are often credited with more advanced technologies, but the Soviets were the first to put a man in space, build a space station, and use hypersonic missiles in combat.
Besides fighter jets with tremendous manoeuvrability and aerodynamic-defying agility, Russians produce some of the best aerial and ground-based missiles, and they are very advanced in metallurgy and nuclear weaponry.
The success of the MiG-21 had forced the USA to set up two MiG-killer air-combat schools. The Mi-8/17 were the most used helicopter of its class, and the AK-47 was a world-beater rifle.
They managed all this with shoestring budgets, and only with the hard work and technological prowess of their scientists. Russia is the world’s largest country, covering nearly 12% of the Earth’s landmass, and it also has abundant oil and gas, as well as other natural resources.
Today, Russians face economic pressures, lack the skills and manpower for large-scale manufacturing, and face a shrinking defence market.
India is a rising economic power with a soon-to-be third-largest economy, the largest population, and one of the biggest markets. India is also highly threatened by two nuclear-powered neighbours.
While India continues to reduce its reliance on Russian arms, it is still a good time for India and Russia to work closely on certain defence equipment, especially in the aerospace sector.
Russia can bring in technology, and India could set up a manufacturing hub with local skilled manpower, software, private-sector strengths, funding, and global business best practices.
The production can be for both Russia and India, as well as for the rest of the world. It is thus time to look at the strengths of the Russian Aerospace industry.
Early Political Congruence
India and the Soviet Union, and now Russia, have time-tested relations since India’s independence in 1947.
In 1951, the USSR exercised its veto power on the Kashmir dispute in support of India. The Soviet Union declared its neutrality during the 1959 border dispute and the Sino-Indian War of October 1962, despite strong Chinese objections.
The Soviet Union provided India with substantial economic and military assistance, and by 1960, India had received more Soviet aid than China had.
In 1962, the Soviet Union agreed to transfer technology to produce nearly 800 MiG-21 jet fighters for India, which it had earlier denied to China. They helped India set up factories for the aircraft, aero-engines, and avionics.
Cold War and Beyond
In 1965, the Soviet Union served as a peace broker between India and Pakistan following the war. India’s relationship with the Soviet Union grew strategically, culminating in the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.
Through the 1971 India-Pakistan War for the liberation of Bangladesh, the Soviet Union stood by India against US and Chinese pressures.
During the Cold War, India and the USSR maintained a “special and privileged strategic partnership” that was built on five major components: politics, defence, civil nuclear energy, anti-terrorism cooperation, and space.
Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, India maintained warm relations with Russia’s successor state. The first major political initiative after the dissolution was the Strategic Partnership signed by the two countries in 2000.
The IRIGC (India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission) is the main body responsible for conducting official affairs between the two countries at the governmental level. Both countries are members of international bodies, including the UN, BRICS, G20, SCO, and Russia-India-China (RIC) grouping. Russia supports India’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
India is one of the largest markets for the Russian defence industry. Approximately 60 percent of the Indian military’s hardware today is of Russian origin. Military hardware supplies and, more recently, joint-venture production have been key pillars.
Make-in-India Began in the 1960s
The Soviet Union was the first to support Make in India defence production.
The MiG-21 factories set up in the early 1960s later produced the MiG-27 (170) and the Su-30 MKI (230). Su-30 MKI was a joint D&D project.
Russia also learnt a lot from the Su-30 MKI project and imbibed some of these ideas for its Su-30SM aircraft.
222 Su-30 MKI were produced under license at HAL’s Nashik plant since 2004. An estimated 920 AL-31FP turbofans were manufactured at HAL’s Koraput Division. The Su-30MKI is the backbone of the IAF’s fighter fleet.
In 1965, Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) was set up at Avadi, Chennai, with Soviet assistance. HVF products included Russian-designed T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks.
In September 1965, the Soviet Union and India signed the first contract for the delivery of naval equipment, including four Project I641 diesel-electric submarines, five Project 159E corvettes, and five Project 368P motor boats. The Agreement also envisaged rendering Soviet technical assistance for the construction of a submarine naval base in Vishakhapatnam.
Recently, two frigates, the INS Tushil and INS Tamala, were built by Russia at the Yantar Shipyard, while the remaining two are under construction at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) in India through technology transfer.
Russia is reportedly expanding its shipbuilding cooperation with India, with two Indian shipyards being considered for the construction of four non-nuclear icebreakers. Russian shipbuilding officials have reportedly offered New Delhi their nuclear-powered design for an Indian Navy aircraft carrier.
GSL is also constructing 24 river-sea class cargo ships for Russian clients in the Caspian Sea by 2027. Cooperation with India in shipbuilding has its benefits for Russia, as the unit cost per vessel is projected to be half of what it would cost Russian shipbuilders.
Joint Ventures
Between 2012 and 2016, Russia accounted for 68% of India’s defence imports. Russia and India’s cooperation is not limited to a buyer-seller relationship but includes joint research and development, training, service-to-service contacts, and joint exercises.
India and Russia have a strong success story with Joint Ventures (JVs). The BrahMos is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, and fighter aircraft. BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The missiles are already being exported.
Under an over ₹5000 crore contract signed in July 2021, over 610,000 AK-203 assault rifles are to be manufactured in India with technology transfer from Russia, by the JV Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL).
Indian companies hold a controlling 50.5 percent share, and Russian companies hold 49.5 percent. The level of indigenous content has already reached 50% and is rising rapidly, with a target of 100% in the near future.
India and Russia have also agreed to expedite the delivery of spare parts of Russian-origin military platforms by setting up a JV in India.
Notwithstanding the above, some JVs did not take off. India had withdrawn from the joint Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program due to technical issues. Finally, Russia continued the project and today has a successful Sukhoi Su-57 ‘Felon’ 5th generation fighter.
Russia is once again suggesting that India join back.
Following the selection of the Ka-226T to meet an Indian requirement for 197 helicopters, an agreement was signed in December 2015 to create a JV between Rostec, Russian Helicopters, and HAL to build the helicopters at a new factory in Tumakuru, India.
Later, India decided to make its own Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) based on the indigenous ‘Dhruv.’ India’s LUH is delayed, and Russia has been pushing the case for Ka-226T again.
Similarly, the Indo-Russian program to develop a new Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) for both countries through a JV between Russia’s UAC and India’s HAL was cancelled by India.
In February 2023, on the sidelines of the Aero India 2023 air show, the Russians offered to jointly develop the Il-276. However, India would prefer the aircraft to be powered by a European engine rather than a Russian one, which Moscow is unlikely to propose.
S-400 Missile System
The S-400 is a Russian mobile SAM system developed in the 1990s by Russia’s NPO Almaz as an upgrade to the S-300 family of missiles.
The S-400 system has four radars and four missile sets, covering different ranges and vertical bubbles. The maximum target detection range is 600 kilometres, and targets can be engaged up to 400 kilometres away.
“Historic Kill”: S-400 Shot Down Pakistan’s AEW&C Aircraft 314 KM Away During Indo-Pak War: Source
The five S-400 batteries contracted by India in 2018 cost $5.43 billion, including reserve missiles. The systems have been tested in various Indian military exercises. India’s first combat usage of the S-400 was during the recent “Op Sindoor,” in which India credited it with thwarting Pakistan’s swarm drone and missile attacks, and for shooting down a Pakistani AEW&C at a record-breaking 313 kilometres range.
In October 2025, India initiated a Rs 10,000 crore ($1.1 billion) deal with Russia to acquire 300 additional missiles to replenish and strengthen its existing S-400 systems.
BrahMos JV
The BrahMos is a long-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from land, submarines, ships, and fighter aircraft. It is a joint venture between the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, which together have formed BrahMos Aerospace.
The missile is based on the Russian P-800 Oniks. India holds a 50.5 percent share of the joint venture. 75 percent of the missile is manufactured in India, and there are plans to increase this to 85 percent.
Large numbers of land-launched, ship-launched, and air-launched versions have been inducted and are in service with the Indian armed forces. The missile guidance has been developed by BrahMos Aerospace. In 2016, after India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), India and Russia gradually increased the range of the missile to 800 km.
The unit cost is around $ 3.5 million. The extended-range variant costs around $4.85 million. Many futuristic variants (1500km) are evolving.
Smaller-sized variants like BrahMos-NG are ready. The Sukhoi Su-30MKI will carry three missiles, while the MiG-29K, HAL Tejas, and Rafale will carry one.
BrahMos-II will be a hypersonic cruise missile.
The Philippines has placed a substantial order for their services, and deliveries began in 2024. Russia, too, has plans to buy many missiles. Brazil has shown interest in the missile system. Vietnam and Indonesia have already signed deals.
Russian Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon’ for IAF
China has recently unveiled two sixth-generation fighter jets. Also, Pakistan has announced plans to acquire 40 J-35 stealth fighters from China. It could mean induction by around 2029. That will change the entire air dominance dynamics in the sub-continent.
Meanwhile, India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation, multirole combat aircraft, received Cabinet Committee on Security approval for the development of a prototype in March 2024. The stated timelines are for the 2035 induction.
Realistically, it may be later. This has sparked a heated debate over India’s immediate plans and options.
The Su-57 is a highly manoeuvrable fighter like most others from the Sukhoi fighter stable. Its “Integrated Modular Avionics Combat Systems” use fibre-optic channels. It consists of the main nose-mounted ‘N036-1-01’ X-band AESA radar and two side-looking ‘N036B-1-01’ X-band AESA radars embedded in the cheeks of the forward fuselage for increased angular coverage.
It also has an L-band array on the leading edges. The Su-57 uses advanced AI and man-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technologies, and will be able to launch and/or control the S-71M “Monochrome” combat UAV for deep penetration attacks.
Work is underway to integrate the Okhotnik UCAV as a ‘loyal wingman’ for uncrewed teaming. A carrier-based variant of the aircraft is also under development.
The Su-57 can carry four beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles (R-37M) in its two main internal weapons bays and two short-range missiles (upgraded R-74) in the side bays. For missions that do not require stealth, the Su-57 can carry stores on its six external hard-points, which could include the hypersonic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile.
The Su-57’s flyaway cost is reportedly around $45 million per aircraft, much less than the Chinese J-20, and even further cheaper than the much smaller single-engine American F-35. Russians suggest that the Su-57’s lifecycle costs are comparable to those of the Su-27, Su-30, and Su-35, which it was designed to replace.
Russia is willing to open the entire fifth-generation ecosystem, which includes engines, sensors, stealth materials, avionics, and other classified systems.
Russia is also prepared to provide technological learning in areas such as fifth-generation engines, optics, AESA radar, artificial intelligence, low-signature technologies, and advanced air weapons, many of which have been denied by the West. The Su-57 is being termed the “mother of all offers,” with complete technology transfer and co-production in India.
Western vs Russian Platforms
Having flown both Russian and Western aircraft, one can say that each had its own strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies.
Russian aircraft were simpler in design, with large cockpits, more mechanical than electronic systems, and high standardisation and commonality. Switching from one Russian aircraft to another was so much easier.
The levelling mode of the Russian autopilot brought you to level flight by pressing one button on the control column. This was handy if one got disoriented. Russian ejection seats were also very simple, and as foolproof as Western ones.
Russian aircraft engines had brute power but were often fuel-guzzlers, with some exhibiting high specific fuel consumption (SFC), and many produced smoke from their exhaust.
Russian aircraft were cheaper at base price, but in the long run, their lifecycle costs were higher. For example, a MiG-29 would overtake a Mirage 2000 in around 7 years in terms of lifecycle costs.
The Western avionics, including electronic warfare systems, were more sophisticated. Russian aircraft required greater stick displacement for any response; Western aircraft required much less.
Russian cockpit switches were much larger and easy to operate; the Western ones were smaller, and one had to get used to them while operating with gloves on. The Russian and Western artificial horizon instrument display was quite different.
In Russian aircraft, the artificial horizon bar rotated with the aircraft, remaining parallel to the aircraft rather than the actual horizon. The aircraft symbol/bar moved twice the degrees to indicate the bank. This worked well when one was head-down.
Most pilots really liked this instrument (AGD). In the head-up displays of initial Russian aircraft, the displays were identical. This was most confusing because the displayed horizon was different than the real one. This was changed in more recent aircraft.
Russian inner helmets were standardised between pilots, tank crews, and even ship or submarine crews. The Russian radio navigation system (RSBN) was more complex than the Western TACAN and less accurate.
Soviet/Russian aircraft remained more than a match for the Western world. They often achieved results with simpler and cheaper means.
Bright Future Together
In the last two decades, India has sought alternative sources of military hardware from the USA, France, and Israel. But India inevitably returned to its time-tested strategic partner, Russia.
Most of the platforms bought from Western nations were also through G2G deals, as has been the case with all Soviet/Russian deals. There was little or no ToT in Western deals.
India did manage to get better ToT with Make in India and Russian deals/JVs. But many foreign OEMs, such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and GE, have launched many Make-in-India projects in recent years. Russia, too, is making bold offers.
India plans to begin upgrading its Su-30 MKIs. Initially, it will involve 84 aircraft, but subsequently, the entire fleet will be upgraded. Sukhoi will also be involved in the project to upgrade the fly-by-wire system.
The jets will also be modified to fire BrahMos-ER missiles. All this will require major Russian support. India is in the process of procuring 21 additional MiG-29s from Russia, which would enable the replacement of earlier losses and the formation of another squadron. India earlier upgraded its MiG-29 and MiG-21 fleets with Russian support.
There have been reports that negotiations are underway between HAL and Russia to export Indian-produced, Russia-supported Su-30MKIs to global customers. While Russia works to circumvent American economic sanctions, more Russian companies want to set up production facilities in India.
Defence cooperation is an important pillar of the India-Russia strategic partnership. It is guided by the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), established in 2000.
The Agreement for 2021-2031 guides further cooperation in the sphere of research and development, production, and after-sales support of armament systems and various military equipment. The uninterrupted supply of spare parts for Soviet- and Russian-origin equipment is a critical issue under discussion between the two countries.
If India opts for the Su-57 through licensed production and deep collaboration with Russia, it could transform the aerospace sectors of both countries.
India would gain fifth-generation stealth capabilities more quickly, boosting the Indian Air Force while integrating local avionics, weapons, and systems under the Make in India initiative.
For Russia, partnering with India would secure the Su-57’s future, fund upgrades, and enhance its maturity amid limited domestic production.
Together, they could co-produce customized variants for global export to non-Western nations seeking affordable, sanction-resistant stealth fighters that rival the F-35 and China’s stealth aircraft.
- Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retired) is an Indian Air Force veteran, fighter test pilot, and ex-director-general of the Center for Air Power Studies. He has been decorated with gallantry and distinguished service medals during his 40-year tenure in the IAF.
- THIS IS AN OPINION ARTICLE. VIEWS PERSONAL OF THE AUTHOR
- He tweets @Chopsyturvey
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