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Top Indian defence manufacturers, including Adani Defence and Kalyani Group’s Bharat Forge, held several meetings in Russia this year to explore potential joint ventures, Reuters has reported, citing three people with direct knowledge of the matter.
According to the report, discussions took place on the sidelines of an Indian defence industrial delegation’s visit to Moscow from October 29 to 30, led by Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar. This visit marked the first industry-level engagement of its kind since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It occurred prior to the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting, which was co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov in New Delhi on December 4. The meeting focused on niche technologies, self-reliance in defence production, and deepening the strategic partnership, coinciding with President Vladimir Putin’s trip to India on December 4 and 5.
Focus on Spares, Co-Production and Export-Oriented Facilities
Reuters said the talks centred on manufacturing spares for Russian-origin platforms such as the MiG-29, as well as air defence and other weapon systems widely used by the Indian military. Russia is also understood to have proposed establishing production units in India for equipment that could potentially be exported back to Moscow.
These discussions align with the India–Russia agreement announced during Putin’s visit, which committed both countries to reorienting their long-standing defence relationship toward joint R&D, co-development and co-production to support India’s self-reliance goals.
High-Level Industry Presence
A broad cross-section of India’s defence ecosystem was represented in Moscow, Reuters reported, including major private-sector firms, state-owned companies, and startups involved in drones and AI for military applications.
According to the sources cited, Bharat Forge sent an executive to explore collaboration on components for Russian-origin tanks, aircraft and potential helicopter programmes. Adani Defence and Aerospace was represented by its CEO, Ashish Rajvanshi. An official from the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), whose membership includes more than 500 companies, also attended.
Both Adani Group and Bharat Forge denied to Reuters that their executives participated in the meetings. India’s Ministry of Defence and other firms also did not respond to its queries.
Western Sensitivities Remain a Key Factor
The report underscores a strategic dilemma for India: while deeper cooperation with Russia supports legacy platform sustainment and long-term industrial partnership, Western diplomats told Reuters that New Delhi’s dependence on Russian-origin equipment – estimated at 36% of its inventory – remains a major obstacle to accessing sensitive Western technologies.
Team BharatShakti
