New $25 billion contracts to transform India’s armed forces. Additional Russian S-400 and modernized Su-30 confirm strong ties between Delhi and Moscow.
India has approved purchases of military equipment worth about $25 billion, the Defense Ministry announced late on Friday. Other Russian S-400 air defense systems are among the items approved by the procurement board, AFP reported.
- India has approved military purchases worth about twenty-five billion dollars.
- The procurement board also included other Russian S-400 systems in the package.
- The Department has approved seventy-one billion dollars in defense purchases this fiscal year.
- The Indian Air Force will receive new transport aircraft, drones and modernized Su-30 fighters.
- Continued purchases of the S-400 and modifications to the Su-30 confirm Russia’s key role.
The ministry said it had already approved 55 proposals for the purchase of defense equipment worth $71 billion so far this fiscal year. It also signed $25 billion in capital raising deals, the most in a single fiscal year.
Supplies for the Air Force
In addition to the additional S-400 systems already in its arsenal, the Indian Air Force is to acquire new transport aircraft to replace the outdated AN-32 and IL-76 machines, as well as attack drones. The engines of the Su-30 fighter jets are to undergo modernization.
For the Indian Army, the procurement board approved the acquisition of systems for tracking aerial targets, anti-tank ammunition, radio stations and artillery.
Russia remains a key supplier
Although India has expanded purchases of military equipment from the United States, France and Israel in recent years, new orders for S-400 systems and upgrades to Su-30 fighter jets indicate that Russia remains an important supplier, AFP noted.
The S-400 Triumf is a Russian medium- and long-range anti-aircraft missile system. It is intended for the elimination of modern and advanced means of air attack, such as tactical and strategic bombers, tactical ballistic missiles and medium-range ballistic missiles, supersonic air targets, but also early warning aircraft.
