India and Russia share a robust bilateral relationship between them and the just concluded visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Moscow added further momentum to ties between the two countries
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi who visited Russia twice—in July and October this year, Rajnath Singh is the second highest-ranking Indian leader to make an official trip to the Eurasian nation in the last six months, indicating clearly about the existence of strong bonds between the two countries.
 
In fact, both countries have lived up to the expectation of having a longstanding and time-tested partnership in almost all areas, including political, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, and people-to-people ties.
 
Since 2010, both enjoy Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, giving the two countries an opportunity to further strengthen ties between them. It was apparent during the 21st session of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC). The IRIGC-M&MTC) is the key working body that oversees the implementation of plans and the progress of ongoing projects between India and Russia.
 
Productive meeting between Indian and Russian Defence Ministers
 
Co-chaired by Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov, the IRIGC-M&MTC remained “very productive,” said India's Defence Minister in his post on X. While reviewing “the full range of bilateral defence ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation between both the countries. We are committed to further strengthen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” he added.
 
As per the statement released by the Ministry of Defence, Rajnath Singh voiced the government of India’s determination to extend the capabilities of its domestic defence industry across domains and industrial collaboration and stressed on new opportunities for enhancing participation of Russian industries in the ‘Make in India’ projects. Russia on its part has assured that the operationalisation of the Military Technical Cooperation Agreement for 2021-31 will impart necessary impetus to the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
 
It should be noted that defence cooperation is an important pillar of the India-Russia strategic partnership. It is guided by the Programme for Military Technical Cooperation signed between the two countries which is valid, at present till 2031. 

It enshrines the interest of the two governments to further develop and strengthen the military and technical cooperation in the sphere of research and development, production and after sales support of armament systems and various military equipment. The two sides also have periodic exchanges of armed forces personnel and military exercises.
 
Commissioning of INS Tushil
 
High mark of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Russia visit was commissioning of INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate. The seventh in the series, it is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships, the contract for which was signed in October 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, Indian Navy and the Government of India.
 
The 125 metre long and 3900-ton weight ship is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 11356 of which six are already in service. Project 11356 refers to the Talwar-class frigates, designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy. The design of the ship is a more advanced version of the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates that Russia uses.
 
The warship packs a lethal punch. It is armed with a range of advanced weapons, including the jointly-developed Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles, vertically-launched Shtil Surface-to-Air Missiles with enhanced ranges, upgraded medium-range anti-air and surface gun with advanced stealth features, optically-controlled close-range rapid fire gun system, anti-submarine torpedoes and rockets and advanced electronic warfare and communication suite. It is designed for blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions—air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic.
 
The ship is capable of embarking the upgraded anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31, which are formidable force multipliers in themselves. The ship, powered by an advanced gas turbine propulsion plant with state-of-the-art controls, is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots. High degree of automation and stealth features further enhance its combat capability and survivability.
 
The ship’s keel was laid on July 12, 2013 and was launched in water in October 2021. The ship sailed out for its maiden sea trials on January 25, 2024, and completed an exhaustive schedule of Factory trials followed by State Committee Trials and finally the Delivery Acceptance Trials, both in harbour and at sea, by September 24, 2024. 
 
India-Russia defence relationship
 
India and Russia enjoy a very warm and deep defence relationship. Since 2021, both have regularly held two-plus-two dialogue.  They are continuing to have a collaboration in areas of strategic interests.
 
They regularly hold joint exercises across land, air and sea domains. Exercises such as INDRA, AVIA INDRA and INDRA NAVY have served as vital platforms for sharing best practices, refining joint operational tactics drills and procedures, and deepening mutual understanding.
 
In August 2018, India for the first time sent a 200-member contingent of army personnel to Russia to participate in the multilateral exercise ‘Peaceful Mission’ held within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
 
Both India and Russia encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates, and other products for maintenance of Russian origin arms and defence equipment under ‘Make-in-India’ programme through transfer of technology.
 
They have decided to set up joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian armed forces as well as subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries. India is currently manufacturing Russian equipment such as T-90 tanks and SU-30 MKI aircraft under licensed production agreement, and military hardware like BrahMos missiles and AK-203 assault rifles under a joint venture mechanism.
 
Russia supplied MiG-29 fighter jets to India are in operation since the 1980s, Ka-31 helicopters were inducted by the Indian Navy in the 2000s. The INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, one of the two aircraft carriers India currently operates, is also a Russian origin warship.
 
In 2018, India and Russia signed a $5.43 billion deal for the supply of five units of S-400 Triumf missile systems, and of this, three units have arrived, while it is still awaiting the supply of two S-400 air defence systems.  
 
Despite sourcing military platforms from the US and France, Russia remains India’s biggest supplier of defence technologies, accounting for 36% of Delhi arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
 
Conclusion
 
India and Russia are engaged in wide-ranging cooperation in the field of defence. In fact, India-Russia military technical cooperation has evolved from a simple buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems.