Devjyot and Aftab Ghoshal

NEW DELHI (Reuters – India, the largest buyer of Russian arms in the world seeks other suppliers as it faces sanctions and Moscow goes to war with Ukraine.

Two government officials, as well as a defense source, said that New Delhi had long spoken of diversifying its suppliers for its vast armed forces and making more equipment in India. These are urgent goals that became increasingly important after Russia’s invasion.

India identified 25.15 Billion Rupees (or $324 Million) worth of defense equipment to purchase domestically in the current year. According to an online platform, where the defence ministry lists their needs,

Air Marshal Vibhas Pantde, the Indian Air Force’s chief maintenance officer, stated this month that “the present world order, geopolitical situation, which are very, very turbulent has also taught us lessons.”

Pande stated that if we are to offer certainty and stability, the only way is for the country to be completely self-reliant or sustain its supply chain. He spoke to defence industry professionals in New Delhi.

But he didn’t mention specifics about the conflict in Ukraine that Moscow considers a “special military operations”.

A second document indicated that India’s air force seeks equipment, such as propellers and ejection pods in order to fly the Russian-designed Sukhoi fighter aircrafts.

Pande claimed that the Air Force aimed to procure all batteries and tyres for its critical fleets of aircraft from domestic suppliers within three years.

A senior official from India said that India wants to make half of its defense equipment in India, but he spoke on condition anonymity.

Although the defence ministry was asked for information on India’s dependence upon Moscow for its military hardware, and whether Russia’s slow progress during war in Ukraine or elsewhere were concernable, they did not immediately reply.

Brahma Chellaney is a New Delhi-based defence and strategic affairs analyst. She said that while Russian equipment has served India well over the years, it has increased its purchases from other countries like the United States and France in recent times.

“Defence Transition is always an evolutionary slow process. He said that it is impossible to switch suppliers overnight.

India has 1.38 million soldiers and spends $12.4 billion on arms between 2018-2021. Russia is responsible for $5.51billion, according to the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database.

Russian-made tanks are used by the Indian Army, as well as Kalashnikov rifles. The Indian Air Force uses Sukhoi fighter planes and Mi-17 transport helicopters. Formerly, the Russian navy owned the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

Recent months have seen some Western partners of India, which include the United States and Britain signal their readiness to improve their defense capabilities to New Delhi.

THREE-PRINTED APPROACH

According to the second official, the army is trying to keep its readiness high, despite having spent considerable time guarding India’s long borders with China, Pakistan and China.

The government might offer spare ammunition or weapons in exchange for examining the use of platforms and weapons by eastern European countries similar to those used by India.

The official said that in the event of a Russian supply line being strained we can find alternative solutions. He requested anonymity because the issue is delicate.

The official said that Indian officials are encouraging their Russian counterparts as well to fulfill key agreements.

These deals include S-400 missile systems supply and a deal for more than 600,000. Kalashnikov AK-203 assault guns to be produced at a northern India factory.

Many Indian companies are already starting to feel the benefits of diversification and indigenisation.

An industry source stated that PLR Systems (a joint venture of the Adani Group, Israel Weapon Industries) has seen an increase in enquiries regarding assault rifles since the conflict in Ukraine.

PLR Systems has the Israel-designed Galil ACE assault weapon as a substitute for Russian Kalashnikov arms.

Sources say that the demand for rifles comes from the states, as well the centrally armed police forces. The source declined to give his name because it was private. It is not possible for them to get it from the outside.

($1=77.8130 rupees)