India is looking to domestic firms and eastern European nations for military gear and ammunition, as the world's biggest buyer of russian arms seeks alternative suppliers, Reuters reports.
New Delhi has long talked of diversifying the suppliers to its huge armed forces, and even making more equipment at home, objectives that have taken on new urgency since russia's invasion, two government officials and a source in the defense sector said. The government has not officially commented on whether its focus on domestic producers is linked to the war.
India has identified 25.15 billion rupees ($324 million) worth of defence equipment it wants domestic firms to make this year.
"The present world order and geopolitical scenario, which is very, very turbulent, has also taught us a lesson," Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, who leads maintenance operations for the Indian Air Force, said this month.
He added that the only option to ensure certainty and stability is to create a fully self-sufficient supply chain mechanism within the country. At the same time, he did not specifically mention the war in Ukraine.
The journalists have the document where it’s mentioned that the Indian air force is looking for equipment such as ejection pods for russian-designed Sukhoi fighter jets and propellers for Ukraine-made Antonov transport aircraft.
According to an anonymous government source, in general, India plans to produce up to half of its defense equipment on its own territory.
India employs 1.38 million people in its armed forces and is one of the world's largest arms importers, spending $12.4 billion between 2018 and 2021, with russia accounting for $5.51 billion.
In recent months, some of India's Western partners, including Britain and the United States, have signaled a willingness to enhance their defense offerings to New Delhi.
In April, the Indian Air Force canceled a tender to buy 48 Mi-17 V5 helicopters in russia as it seeks to develop its own military production under Prime Minister Modi's “Made in India” program.