Claim in US report: India reduced arms purchases from Russia, but Indian Army cannot run without Russian equipment

The CRS report states that India’s dependence on Russian weapons will continue in the coming times. (file photo)

India’s dependence on weapons and equipment from Russia has reduced significantly. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) of America has given this information in its report. However, the report also said that the Indian Army cannot function effectively without equipment from Russia. At the same time, this kind of dependence will continue in the coming times as well.

This report comes at a time when the Biden administration is about to take an important decision regarding India’s purchase of military weapons from Russia. The US is considering imposing sanctions on India under the CAATSA Act. Under this law, the US appeals to its allies to immediately stop any kind of military transaction with Russia. If not, America imposes many restrictions on these countries.

The purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Russia has been pending since 2016
India’s plan to procure Russian-made S-400 air defense systems has been on hold since 2016. If this deal is done, America can impose sanctions under section 231 of CAATSA. It is known that CRS prepares reports from time to time on different issues through experts. Its reports are not official reports of Congress. These are prepared to help the MPs take decisions.

Continued decline in arms imports from Russia under Modi government
According to the CRS report, there has been a steady decline in arms imports from Russia under the Modi government since 2015. Since 2010, India has been purchasing nearly two-thirds (62%) of weapons from Russia. Thus India is the largest buyer of Russian weapons. At the same time, Russia sells one-third (32%) of its weapons to India.

Massive stock of weapons made in Russia in India’s military arsenal
The report said that as of The Military Balance 2021, India’s existing military arsenal has a huge stockpile of weapons made or designed in Russia. Four of the Navy’s 10 guided-missile destroyers are of the Russian Kashin class and six of its 17 warships are of the Russian Talwar class. The Navy’s only nuclear-powered submarine is leased from Russia and eight of the 14 other submarines in service are Russian.