Is Ukraine war delaying India's crucial weapon supplies from Russia?

The Ukraine War has delayed a number of India’s key defence acquisitions from Russia.

The acquisitions delayed include air defence systems, warships, and submarines.

For one, India is expected to get the first of the two multi-role frigates within the next one month after a delay of nearly two years, according to The Times of India.

A number of other deliverables are not expected to come before 2026-27.

The delay is part of a broader trend where Russia’s defence exports have fallen as the entire defence industry has been reoriented to address the needs of the war in Ukraine. Despite a famed defence industrial base, Russia has had to import weapons, such as missiles, artillery ammunition, and drones from fellow authoritarian regimes of North Korea and Iran. China has also been helping Russia’s defence manufacturing.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, its arms sales fell by around 60 per cent, according to Financial Times.

Frigates delayed by 2 years

India is set to receive the first of two Russia-made guided-missile multi-role frigates by the end of this month, according to ToI.

India and Russia signed the acquisition agreement in 2018 and the two warships were to be delivered by 2022-23, as per a Hindustan Times report at the time.

However, not even one ship has been delivered so far as Russia has prioritised own defence requirements over contractual obligations to India, affecting India’s plans for military modernisation.

The development comes as India is revamping military posturing from the Himalayas to the Indo-Pacific to counter the threat from China, which is Russia’s principal ally. Russia’s delay end up helping in China in furthering the capacity gap with India in its favour in various theatres.

Air-defence systems delayed till at least 2026

India has purchased five batteries of S-400 air-defence system from Russia, which is running years behind scheduled.

While the delivery of all five batteries was to take place by 2023, now ToI has reported that deliveries can only be completed by 2026.

So far, Russia has only delivered three batteries.

“India has asked Russia for faster delivery. But it looks difficult because Russia’s entire defence-industrial production is geared towards Ukraine war,” a source told the newspaper.

Submarine delayed by at least 3 years

In 2019, India and Russia had signed a deal for the lease of a nuclear submarine, which was supposed to be delivered by 2025.

A source told ToI that the submarine is not expected to arrive before 2028.