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India-Russia Arms Equation: A Visual Journey of Decades-Long Defense Ties
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Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, December 3rd 2025 at 12:05 GMT by moneycontrol.com- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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India‑Russia Arms Equation: A Visual Tour of One of the World’s Long‑Standing Defense Partnerships
The Moneycontrol feature “India‑Russia arms equation in pics” offers a striking visual snapshot of the decades‑long military relationship between New Delhi and Moscow. Through a series of photographs—ranging from sleek fighter jets to imposing missile batteries—the article walks readers through the most consequential defense deals that have shaped the Indian Armed Forces’ capabilities in the 21st century. Below is a concise 500‑plus‑word overview of the piece, complete with context drawn from the links the article follows to provide background on each major transaction.
1. The Historical Context: A Cold War Legacy Resurfaces
The article opens with a nod to India’s post‑Independence “Look East” and “Look West” policies, noting that the USSR (and later the Russian Federation) was a pivotal partner during the Cold War. A photo of a 1980s-era T-55 tank, still displayed in a museum in New Delhi, sets the tone: it represents a time when Soviet technology was the backbone of India’s defense industry. In the 1990s, after the Soviet Union’s collapse, Moscow’s defense exports to India saw a temporary dip, but the partnership re‑accelerated in the early 2000s as India sought modern systems that could be integrated into its existing fleet.
The article links to a Moneycontrol piece that explains India’s strategic imperatives in the 2000s—rapid modernization, the need for a credible deterrent against regional rivals, and the desire to keep U.S. dependence in check. That context explains why, from the mid‑2000s onward, Russia has become one of India’s most prolific arms suppliers.
2. The S‑400 Missile Defense System: A Game‑Changer
The centerpiece of the article’s visual tour is the S‑400 Triumf (or SA‑21 Growler in U.S. nomenclature). A wide‑angle shot of the S‑400 launch site in Bhopal showcases the system’s massive radar arrays and missile launchers. The accompanying photo‑caption cites the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which paved the way for a $10.3 billion deal.
The article dives into technical specifics: each S‑400 battery can track up to 80 targets, with a range of up to 240 km for medium‑range missiles. It also points out that the S‑400 has “airborne” missile variants that can engage aircraft and cruise missiles at longer ranges. A link to a Moneycontrol explanation of how the S‑400 integrates with India’s existing air‑defense network is provided, underscoring the strategic depth it adds to the Indian Air Force’s layered defense architecture.
3. The T‑90S Main Battle Tank: From the Khanty–Mansi Region to the Indian Front
One of the more striking images is a glossy shot of a T‑90S tank parked in the Indian Army’s 5th Division, with soldiers in the background. The article explains that India first ordered 200 T‑90S tanks in 2013, as part of a 2014 defense procurement cycle that also included T‑90S upgrades. The article links to a Moneycontrol feature on the T‑90’s cost—approximately ₹1.3 billion per unit—and the modernization package that includes the 125 mm smoothbore gun, active protection system, and fire‑control radar.
It also notes that India is in talks for a second batch of T‑90S tanks, which would bring the total to 400. The photos underscore the tank’s ruggedness and adaptability to the varied Indian terrain—from the high Himalayas to the coastal deserts of Rajasthan.
4. The MiG‑29K Carrier‑Based Fighter: Navy’s Sky‑High Ambitions
A high‑angle photo of a MiG‑29K on the deck of the INS Vikramaditya (the former Russian Admiral Kuznetsov) captures the essence of India’s naval air power. The article links to a Moneycontrol write‑up on the 2014 deal that saw India purchase 12 MiG‑29K fighters and two aircraft carriers (Kuznetsov and Admiral Gorshkov). The image also highlights the carrier’s “STOL” (Short Take‑off and Landing) capability and the MiG‑29K’s radar and missile systems.
The article further discusses the significance of the MiG‑29K for India’s Indo‑Pacific deterrence posture, noting how it bridges a capability gap that could otherwise be filled by U.S. aircraft such as the F‑35.
5. The BrahMos Cruise Missile: Indo‑Russian Co‑Development
A series of images depict the sleek BrahMos missile on a ship’s deck and a test launch from a coastal missile base in Karnataka. The article references the 2014 Joint Venture between Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that produced the BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile with a range of 300 km. The linked Moneycontrol analysis explains the missile’s dual‑role: land‑attack and anti‑ship, and the strategic benefit of having a missile that can be launched from air, sea, or land platforms.
It also highlights the newer BrahMos‑NG (Next Generation), which promises greater speed, range, and a stealthy design—another area of future collaboration the article hints at.
6. The Kilo‑Class Submarines: Stealth in the South China Sea
A photo of the Kilo‑class submarine INS Kalvari (K 43) on the water shows the quiet “silent” nature of this platform. The article links to a Moneycontrol feature on India’s purchase of six Kilo submarines from Russia in 2007, valued at $1.2 billion each. It explains that the Kilo’s low acoustic signature and advanced missile tubes enable it to operate under the radar of adversaries, an attribute that the article underscores as critical given the maritime disputes in the Indian Ocean.
7. Strategic Implications: Autonomy in a Polarized World
The article’s concluding images—New Delhi’s Parliament House and the Russian Embassy—frame the broader political narrative. It draws on a Moneycontrol analysis that outlines India’s “Strategic Autonomy” doctrine: the balancing act between aligning with the U.S. and maintaining a robust partnership with Russia. The article explains that Russia’s advanced missile systems, coupled with its willingness to offer “technology transfer” agreements, make it a strategic partner that India can rely on for rapid modernization without the political strings that often accompany U.S. defense sales.
8. Challenges and Future Outlook
The article uses a series of infographics to illustrate the cost, timelines, and logistical hurdles of large‑scale procurement. For instance, the S‑400 deal required a multi‑stage process involving the Indian Defense Ministry, the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), and a special task force to manage the complex integration of foreign hardware into Indian networks. The article also highlights that future deals will likely include the S‑350, a next‑generation air defense system that is already under development in Russia.
Finally, the piece references an upcoming Moneycontrol interview with a defense analyst who predicts that India will continue to diversify its supplier base, incorporating systems from the U.S., France, and even emerging suppliers like China. Yet, the visual narrative firmly places Russia as a cornerstone of India’s defense architecture, given the breadth of systems already in use and the continued momentum in procurement talks.
Bottom Line
“India‑Russia arms equation in pics” is more than a gallery of weapons; it is a visual chronicle of a partnership that has evolved from Cold War camaraderie to a sophisticated, multi‑layered defense collaboration. Through its photos and linked articles, Moneycontrol provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of how Russian technology underpins key components of India’s air, land, sea, and missile defense capabilities, and why this partnership remains pivotal even as India navigates a complex global security landscape.
Read the Full moneycontrol.com Article at:
[ https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/the-india-russia-arms-equation-in-pics-13709306.html ]