India-Russia Defense Joint Ventures
Analysis based on 9 articles · First reported Dec 09, 2025 · Last updated Dec 10, 2025
The potential for joint defense ventures between India and Russia could significantly impact the global defense market, offering new opportunities for Indian firms like Adani Group — Adani Defence & Aerospace and Bharat Forge while potentially complicating India's defense technology transfers with Western nations. This reorientation of defense ties could boost India's domestic manufacturing capabilities and reduce its reliance on arms imports, but also exposes Indian companies to the risk of secondary sanctions.
Executives from top Indian arms makers, including Adani Group — Adani Defence & Aerospace and Bharat Forge, held meetings in Russia to discuss potential joint ventures in defense manufacturing. This marks the first such visit since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative, aims to reorient its long-standing defense ties with Russia towards joint development and co-production of advanced defense technology and systems, supporting India's goal of self-reliance in defense. Discussions included manufacturing spares for Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets and other Russian-origin systems, as well as a Russian proposal to establish production units in India for equipment that could be exported to Russia. This collaboration, however, poses a risk of secondary sanctions for Indian firms and could hinder their plans to develop Western arms, as Western diplomats view India's ties with Russia as an obstacle to technology transfer. The meetings were held on the sidelines of a visit by an Indian defense-industrial delegation led by Sanjeev Kumar, which also laid the groundwork for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India.
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