Russia disappointed over India's US tilt

Over the last decade, the US has made considerable forays into the Indian defence market, bagging deals worth Rs 45,000 crore and waiting to sign more contracts worth nearly Rs 30,000 crore in the next couple of years. 

With bilateral narrative changing course after the 2005 civilian nuclear deal, and despite nuclear trade not witnessing an uptick, traction has been achieved by the two in the field of defence trade, armed forces interchangeability and best military practices with intelligence sharing on an upswing.

However, the Russians, who still remain the largest defence supplier to the 13-lakh-strong Indian armed forces, have openly expressed their displeasure over the developments like India placing orders for the C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlifter instead of adding the latest IL-76 to its existing fleet of 25 of these Russian planes.

Both Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin and Rosoboronexport chief Viktor Komardin have lashed out at the Indian political leadership and have called the Indian move to source arms from other countries “unfair” to the “only true strategic friend.”