New Delhi : Russia has intensified efforts to sell its Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, Geran kamikaze drones, and advanced submarines to India during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi. However, Indian officials delivered a restrained response on December 10, 2025, signaling that New Delhi is now focused on accelerating upgrades to its indigenous Tejas program rather than expanding big-ticket Russian imports.
Moscow’s offer included proposals for joint production, technology sharing, and long-term procurement partnerships aimed at revitalizing a defense relationship strained by supply-chain disruptions and sanctions linked to the Ukraine war. Russia, which still accounts for nearly 40% of India’s $130 billion defense import ecosystem, is seeking to maintain strategic relevance as India diversifies its suppliers.
The Su-57, priced at roughly $50 million per aircraft, is being positioned as a contender for India’s massive 114-jet MRFA acquisition program, targeted for completion by 2030. Yet Indian defense planners are increasingly leaning toward a mix of domestically built fighters and Western platforms that offer open architecture, interoperability, and fewer sanctions risks.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with Putin and Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov, but officials privately described India’s stance as “cautious,” citing concerns over long-term maintenance, engine reliability, and geopolitical liabilities.
Meanwhile, public debate surged online under #IndiaRussiaDefence, generating over 20,000 posts as analysts and citizens debated whether India should further diversify away from Russian platforms in a sanctions-heavy global environment.
