India is about to ramp up on its production of military equipment including missiles, early warning systems, tanks and helicopters as its fears a lack of supply from its main partner – Russia.
India currently depends on Russia for nearly 60% of its defence and military supplies and continues to send billions of rupees to Moscow for equipment, however, plans have now been made to make the Indian armed forces self-sufficient.
“Our objective is to develop India as a defence manufacturing hub,” Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday. The ministry’s website advises military orders worth 2,100 billion rupees are likely to be placed with domestic state-run and private defence manufacturers in the next five years. It will be a major undertraining for the Indian aeronautical industry, for example, there are over 400 Russian and Soviet aircraft in the Indian Air Force, including Sukhoi Su30s, MiG-21s and MiG 29s which all require Russian made spares parts and other such components to keep airborne. Around 100 are currently grounded due to maintenance or serviceability issues according to local members of the air force.
The Air Force also heavily relies on S-125 Pechora and 9K33 Osa-AK Russian surface to air missiles
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