Putin: Russia Leads in Advanced Weaponry Supplies to India

Moscow is the leader in terms of direct arms supplies to India and joint research, President Vladimir Putin said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia remains the top supplier of new generation weaponry to India and is the leader in joint research with the country, as well as military production, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Sputnik and the IANS news agency.

"Our countries actively collaborate in the military technical field. Russia remains in the lead in terms of both direct supplies of most advanced weapons and military equipment and conducting joint researches with India, as well as producing goods for military purposes. The construction of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the development of a new, fifth generation fighter aircraft are among the successful joint projects," Putin said.

The Russian leader stressed that Russia-India projects are highly important for the economies of both countries, particularly for industry development in India.

"Let me add that many of the Russian projects in India not only have commercial importance but also play a significant social and economic role for the economies of the two countries. They harmoniously fit in the new Indian industrialization program proposed by [Indian Prime Minister] Mr. [Narendra] Modi," Putin said.

Russia and India have maintained a close partnership in military and technical cooperation for decades. India remains the largest importer of Russian weapons. According to the Center for Analyses of World Arms Trade, Russian- and Soviet-made arms account for about 70 percent of the Indian defense forces' total arsenal.

According to Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), Russia supplied weaponry and military technology worth $4.7 billion to India in 2014, while in 2013 that figure stood at $4.78 billion.