Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Russia's share of arms supply to India falls sharply since 2012: Report

Russia's share of arms supply to India falls sharply since 2012: Report

RUSSIA'S share of arms supply to India fell from 69 per cent in 2012-17 to 46 per cent in 2017-21, according to a report released on Monday (14) by the Stockholm-based defence think-tank SIPRI.

Russia started a war against Ukraine on February 24, which led the US and other western countries to impose harsh economic sanctions on the country.

"Between 2012–16 and 2017–21 Indian arms imports decreased by 21 per cent. Despite this, India was the world's largest importer of major arms in 2017–21 and accounted for 11 per cent of total global arms imports in the period," the report noted.

Russia was the largest supplier of major arms to India in both 2012–16 and 2017–21, but India's imports of Russian arms dropped by 47 per cent between the two periods as several large programmes for Russian arms wound down, said the report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

This, combined with India's increased efforts to diversify its arms supplier base, meant that Russia's share of total Indian arms imports fell from 69 per cent to 46 per cent, it mentioned.

In contrast, India's arms imports from France increased more than tenfold, making it India's second-largest arms supplier in 2017–21, it stated.

Because of the perceived growing threats from China and Pakistan and because of significant delays in the production of its own major arms, India has large-scale plans for arms imports, it noted.

"The drop in India's arms imports is, therefore, probably a temporary result of its slow and complex procurement process as well as its shift in suppliers," it mentioned.

Globally, Russia's arms exports fell by 26 per cent between 2012–16 and 2017–21, and its share of global arms exports decreased from 24 per cent to 19 per cent, it noted.

Russia delivered major arms to 45 states in 2017–21, it said.

In contrast to the US, Russia's exports in 2017–21 were more concentrated as four states - India, China, Egypt and Algeria - together received 73 per cent of total Russian arms exports, it noted.

"The overall drop in Russian arms exports between 2012–16 and 2017–21 was almost entirely due to decreases in arms exports to India (-47 per cent) and Vietnam (-71 per cent)," it said.

While a number of arms export contracts signed over the past 10 years had been completed by the end of 2021, several large Russian arms deliveries are still pending and include eight air defence systems, four frigates and one nuclear-powered submarine to India, it stated.

Substantial increases in Russia's arms exports to China (60 per cent) and Egypt (723 per cent) - the second and third largest recipients of Russian arms respectively - did not offset the overall decrease in its arms exports, it noted.

In 2017-21, both China and Egypt received air defence systems and combat aircraft from Russia, it stated.

"SIPRI has identified 163 states as importers of major arms in 2017-21. The top five arms importers - India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia and China - together received 38 per cent of total global arms imports in 2017–21," it noted.

(PTI)

More For You

Southport stabbings: Terrorism watchdog rejects definition change

FILE PHOTO: Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle in Southport, England (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Southport stabbings: Terrorism watchdog rejects definition change

TERRORISM watchdog has rejected calls to redefine terrorism following last summer's tragic Southport murders, while recommending a new offence to tackle those intent on mass killings without clear ideological motives.

Jonathan Hall KC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, published his highly anticipated report on Thursday (13), concluding that the existing definition of terrorism should remain unchanged despite growing concerns about violent attackers with unclear motives.

Keep ReadingShow less
Commonwealth wreath-laying ceremony held in London

A military piper, choir, and the Sikh soldiers of the British Army took part in the ceremony.

Commonwealth wreath-laying ceremony held in London

A WREATH-LAYING ceremony was held at the Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London on 10 March to honour Commonwealth servicemen and women who fought in the First and Second World Wars.

Lord Boateng, chairman of the Memorial Gates Council, led the event, highlighting the importance of remembering those who served.

Keep ReadingShow less
Student visas

The ongoing negotiations focus specifically on business mobility, addressing only the relevant business visas

iStock

Student visas excluded from UK-India FTA talks, says government

THE government last week clarified that only temporary business mobility visas are part of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

Other types of visas, such as student visas, will not be included in the trade deal, it was revealed during a debate in the House of Lords.

Keep ReadingShow less
India Detains Crypto Administrator Wanted by US for Laundering

Aleksej Besciokov, was charged with money laundering and accused of violating sanctions and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, according to the US Justice Department. (Photo: US Secret Service)

India arrests crypto administrator wanted by US for money laundering

INDIAN authorities have arrested a cryptocurrency exchange administrator at the request of the United States on charges of money laundering conspiracy and sanctions violations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Wednesday.

The arrest follows a joint operation by the United States, Germany, and Finland, which dismantled the online infrastructure of Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer said that the change would free up funds for doctors, nurses, and frontline services while reducing red tape to accelerate improvements in the health system. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer scraps NHS England, brings health service under ministerial control

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has abolished NHS England, bringing the health service under direct ministerial control.

The decision reverses a key reform introduced by former health secretary Andrew Lansley during the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, The Guardian reported.

Keep ReadingShow less