The India-Russia defence partnership is undergoing a structural transformation, moving away from traditional arms purchases toward the joint development and production of military equipment on Indian soil, according to a report by Canada-based Geopolitical Monitor. The shift reflects India's growing indigenous defence capabilities and signals a rebalancing of the decades-old buyer-seller relationship between the two countries.

Modi-Putin Talks and Army Chief's Moscow Visit

On the sidelines of the recently concluded BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held discussions spanning political, economic, and energy issues, with defence cooperation reportedly featuring on the agenda. Just days after that meeting, Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth travelled to Russia for an official visit — marking the first trip by a senior Indian military commander to Moscow in eight years.

From Buyer to Co-Producer

For decades, India was Russia's largest defence customer, purchasing military hardware directly from Russian manufacturers. That model has since evolved significantly. A large share of Russian-origin platforms fielded by the Indian military is now produced domestically through licensed manufacturing and joint ventures, the report noted.

According to the Geopolitical Monitor analysis, 'India's frontline armoured and mechanised units are practically defined by their Russian-designed equipment' — ranging from infantry rifles and armoured transports to heavy tanks and missile defence systems. However, the report added that this reality is 'beginning to look very different' as India deepens its own production base.

BrahMos Expansion and T-90MS Proposal

Russia and India are also eyeing expanded cooperation in missile development, with a specific focus on the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Developed jointly over the past 25 years, BrahMos is derived from Russia's P-800 Oniks missile — specifically its export variant, the Yakhont. India has since introduced numerous modifications, giving the missile capabilities that distinguish it from its Russian predecessor. The report noted that 'further modernisation will nevertheless be necessary to keep pace with increasingly advanced air defence systems,' according to international experts.

On armoured vehicles, Rosoboronexport — Russia's state arms exporter — in July reportedly offered India the opportunity to jointly produce the T-90MS main battle tank. The proposal would build on an existing arrangement under which India already manufactures the vast majority of its T-90S tanks domestically, combining locally made and Russian-supplied components.

What the Shift Means Strategically

The transition from procurement to co-production carries significant strategic implications. It gives India greater operational autonomy and supply-chain resilience, while offering Russia continued relevance as a technology partner rather than merely a vendor. This comes amid India's broader push to reduce import dependence under its Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence initiative. Notably, New Delhi has also been diversifying its defence portfolio — engaging the United States, France, and Israel — making co-production arrangements with Moscow a way for Russia to remain embedded in India's long-term defence architecture.

With the Army Chief's visit and fresh summit-level dialogue underway, the next phase of India-Russia defence engagement is likely to be defined less by catalogues and more by co-development agreements.