Ever since the conflict in Ukraine began, the American led Western narrative that was pushed in India was that Russia no longer remains a reliable weapons supplier. Some of the pro-Western defence analysts also argued that Russia is so hugely dependent on China after Ukraine conflict that it can be classified as a junior partner in the relationship.
The need for chasing and buying off the shelf weapons systems in view of the rising China threat was pushed via the Indian media. But the Modi government played along as if hugely concerned but did not place any major orders with the Western block defence companies.
Such was the anxiety to grab Indian defence market that United States actually fielded its B-1B long range strategic bomber in India for the first time and conducted a fly-by on the inaugural day of Aero India 2021. It was hard to miss the context which was speculative reports in sections of media that India could be eyeing Russian long range supersonic bombers Tupolev to deter China threat.
But the events that have happened lately have all the more punctured the notion that Russia is a ‘junior partner’ or is country that is diminished in any way. Ofcourse the Indian leadership has made it clear that it wants the Ukraine conflict to end sooner than later but the ties are not going anywhere.
It was covered widely in the Indian media that the country’s Army has received the first batch of Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) from Russia. It is said to be part of a larger deal for 120 launchers and 400 missiles. Whats even more crucial is that while the first batch has come from Russia, the remaining of these systems will be made in India through Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Russia.
These systems were procured to enhance the Army’s Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities, particularly in high mountainous terrain along the northern border. This essentially means that the systems would mostly be deployed along the border with China where tension has escalated after 2020 Galwan clash.
The Igla-S is designed to bring down low-flying aircraft and can also identify and neutralise air targets such as cruise missiles and drones. It is essentially a hand-held defence system that can be operated by an individual or crew.
In another of the major development amid the ongoing tension in South China sea, India has gone ahead and delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Philippines on Friday. It was in January 2022 that Philippines concluded a $375-million deal with India for three batteries of shore-based, anti-ship variant of the BrahMos.
What needs to be mentioned here prominently is that Brahmos is again an India-Russia joint venture. The name of the missile itself encompasses two rivers, each from India and Russia. The Philippines deal could not have taken place if Russia objected or vetoed it.
But the India-Russia supersonic anti-ship missile is to be deployed against Chinese threat in South China sea. The frequent clashes between China and Philippines in the region have become international news.