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Moscow has publicly signalled that it is prepared to discuss some of its most advanced military technologies with India when PM Modi and Putin meet on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek. (Photo: POOL via AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi is set to put defence cooperation firmly back at the centre of the India-Russia strategic partnership, with the S-400 air defence system, Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet and an upgrade of the BrahMos missile emerging as key issues.
Putin and PM Modi are scheduled to hold bilateral talks on September 11 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The Kremlin has indicated that the discussions will cover several areas of the relationship, but remarks by spokesperson Dmitry Peskov have made it clear that military-technical cooperation will receive particular attention.
Peskov’s comments go beyond a routine reaffirmation of defence ties. Moscow has publicly signalled that it is prepared to discuss some of its most advanced military technologies with India, including possible cooperation around the Su-57, while also looking at ways to make the jointly developed BrahMos missile more capable and competitive.
S-400 Deliveries Remain On The Table
The S-400 air defence system is expected to be one of the immediate, practical issues in the Modi-Putin conversation. India signed a $5.43-billion agreement with Russia in 2018 for five S-400 Triumf systems. Three systems have already been delivered, while the remaining two are expected to be supplied in 2026. Peskov indicated that Moscow remains committed to fulfilling its obligations.
“Russia is capable of fulfilling its obligations, and they will be fulfilled,” Peskov said while interacting with the Indian media. He added that the issue continues to feature in discussions between the two leaders.
The S-400 has particular importance for India because it is designed to detect and engage a range of aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles and certain ballistic missile targets, at different ranges. Its deployment has consequently become an important component of India’s layered air-defence architecture.
The completion of the original contract is also relevant in the context of India’s wider requirement for air defence. The Defence Acquisition Council approved the acquisition of additional S-400 systems earlier this year, underscoring that the platform continues to have a role in India’s defence planning.
Su-57: Russia Pushes Its Fifth-Generation Fighter
The more strategically significant conversation, however, could be around the Su-57. Russia is actively pitching its fifth-generation stealth fighter to India, and Peskov was unusually explicit about its place in Putin’s agenda. “The issue of selling those machines to India is on the agenda,” he said when asked about the Su-57.
The Su-57 is Russia’s fifth-generation multirole fighter and is designed around stealth, advanced avionics, sensor integration and the ability to conduct both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. For India, a potential acquisition would represent a major addition to its fighter fleet at a time when the Indian Air Force is looking to strengthen its combat aircraft numbers and introduce more advanced platforms.
But the bigger Indian interest appears to be technology transfer and local production, rather than simply buying finished aircraft. Peskov confirmed that Indian scientists and officials are seeking access to production technologies and that discussions are underway.
“Indian scientists want production technologies,” Peskov said, adding that the question would require further discussions. He also acknowledged the sensitivity of such technology, noting that countries generally seek to retain their most sophisticated military know-how.
This is potentially the most important part of the Su-57 discussion. India’s defence procurement strategy has increasingly emphasised domestic manufacturing, local assembly and technology absorption rather than simply importing complete weapons systems.
Moscow’s willingness to even discuss technology sharing therefore gives the proposed Su-57 engagement a different dimension from a conventional fighter-jet sale.
At the same time, a technology-transfer arrangement would be considerably more complicated than a straightforward purchase. Stealth-related technologies, advanced radar and electronic warfare systems, engines, materials and manufacturing processes are among the most sensitive elements of a fifth-generation fighter programme.
Peskov himself underlined that such military cooperation cannot simply be negotiated in public. “Such military cooperation is of great importance, but it can’t be discussed openly and publicly,” he said.
BrahMos Upgrade On Agenda Too
The third major defence issue is the BrahMos missile programme, arguably the most successful example of India-Russia joint defence production. Developed jointly by India and Russia, BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that has become a central component of India’s precision-strike capability. It has been integrated across multiple platforms, including land-based launchers, warships and fighter aircraft.
Now, Moscow wants the partnership to move to the next stage. “We are jointly producing the BrahMos missiles, and it is time to think about improving those missiles, adding some additional characteristics, making them more competitive in the market and more effective,” Peskov said.
That could give the BrahMos programme a second strategic benefit for India: not only enhancing the capabilities of its own armed forces, but also strengthening India’s position as a defence exporter.
India has already expanded the BrahMos ecosystem beyond domestic requirements, with the missile becoming an important example of the country’s attempt to transition from being primarily a defence importer to a producer and exporter of advanced military equipment.
Defence Relationship Being Recalibrated
The Modi-Putin meeting comes at a point when the India-Russia defence relationship is evolving. For decades, Moscow has been India’s principal supplier of military hardware, from fighter aircraft and tanks to submarines and air-defence systems. But India’s defence procurement has become increasingly diversified, with the United States, France, Israel and other countries now playing significant roles.
Russia, meanwhile, faces its own constraints because of the continuing Ukraine war and Western sanctions.
Against that backdrop, the emphasis on S-400 deliveries, Su-57 technology and BrahMos upgrades shows that Moscow is seeking to keep the defence relationship strategically relevant rather than allowing it to remain anchored in legacy equipment.
For New Delhi, the attraction is equally clear with access to advanced military platforms and technologies, coupled with greater scope for domestic production.
The September 11 meeting could therefore set the direction for the next phase of India-Russia military cooperation, one built around technology, joint production and upgrading existing systems.
With Putin personally carrying the Su-57 pitch to New Delhi, the fighter jet could well emerge as the most closely watched defence issue of the BRICS week.
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Ask News18The upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi will focus on defense cooperation, specifically the S-400 air defense system, Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet, and an upgrade of the BrahMos missile. The talks are scheduled for September 11 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
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Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures…Read More
September 09, 2026, 11:32 IST
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