Though imports from Russia are down, it still remains India’s largest arms supplier. While sourcing from Israel has also decreased, it has risen from the US & France.
Last year, US sold record amount of military equipment & hardware, especially among European partners & allies. One of the reasons for this hike is Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report says there are indications India 'mating' warheads with launchers during peacetime & China arsenal has gone up to 500 warheads.
India received 31% Russian arms exports & France displaced US as India’s 2nd-largest supplier, according to report released by Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
A study by Swedish think tank SIPRI found that arms sales from companies in Asia & Oceania registered higher sales than European firms, while US manufacturers saw a drop of 0.9 per cent.
SIPRI report shows India no longer world's biggest arms importer, says its imports from Russia fell to 58 per cent in 2014–18 from 76 per cent in 2009–13.
IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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