India pivots from Russia to US for cutting-edge weapons

India has significantly reduced defense equipment orders from Russia and is now turning to Western suppliers, marking a major shift for a country that historically relied on arms from Moscow. Plans for joint development of helicopters and fighter jets with Russia have been abandoned, and a proposal to lease a nuclear-powered submarine is unlikely to proceed as India builds its own vessels. With only two warships and anti-missile shield batteries outstanding from previous orders, India’s arms imports from Russia have decreased from 76% in 2009 to 36% last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

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