India plans to purchase $25 billion worth of military equipment from Russia.
According to a report by Reference News on March 30, the Russian newspaper Vedomosti cited a report from TASS on March 27 stating that the Indian Defense Procurement Council, led by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved a military equipment and weapons procurement plan totaling 2.38 trillion rupees (approximately 25 billion USD). The procurement list includes the Russian S-400 air defense missile system, medium military transport aircraft, attack drones, and upgrade services for Su-30 fighter jet engines.
The Indian Ministry of Defense emphasized: “Approval has been granted for the procurement of medium transport aircraft, S-400 long-range air defense missile systems, attack drones, and upgrade services for Su-30 aircraft engines for the Indian Air Force.”
According to the statement from the Indian Ministry of Defense, the S-400 system is used to counter long-range aerial threats from adversaries and to protect critical targets. The new drones will be used for offensive operations, reconnaissance, and coordination of aerial operations, while the upgrade services for the Su-30 fighter jet engines are expected to extend the service life of this type of aircraft and ensure they meet all operational requirements.
In addition, the Indian Ministry of Defense has also agreed to procure new air defense systems for the Indian Army, armor-piercing rounds for tanks, Dhanush artillery, and an air situation observation system that does not rely on airports. To meet coastal defense needs, India has also agreed to procure heavy air-cushion vehicles for various tasks in nearshore waters. (Translated by Liu Yang)
India's Defense Procurement Committee approved a military procurement deal worth approximately $25 billion from Russia, which includes S-400 air defense systems, medium transport aircraft, and attack drones. This procurement aims to enhance India's military capabilities against aerial threats and support various military operations. The deal was confirmed by the Indian Defense Ministry on March 30, 2023.
- India's Defense Procurement Committee approved a procurement worth $25 billion from Russia.
- The procurement includes S-400 air defense systems and attack drones.
- The deal aims to enhance India's military capabilities against aerial threats.
- New equipment will support offensive operations and reconnaissance.
- Heavy air-cushion boats will be acquired for coastal defense.