Russian Naval Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Moiseev has met with his Indian counterpart, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and other military officials, during a visit to New Delhi, as the two nations explore ways to strengthen defense and maritime cooperation.
The trip comes several weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. During Modi’s visit, the two sides agreed to expand ties, including in the military domain. Modi is set to travel to Poland and Ukraine later this week.
“Both Principals held discussion on collaborative mechanisms and measures to further strengthen existing Navy to Navy cooperation & explore avenues for enhancing cooperation,” the Indian Navy stated on Tuesday. It added that the high-profile visit is a “testimony to the longstanding relationship” between the navies of Russia and India.
The Times of India newspaper noted on Tuesday, citing officials, that the discussions between Admiral Moiseev and India’s chief of defense staff, General Anil Chauhan, “underscore the mutual commitment to enhancing maritime security, deepening strategic cooperation and fostering a stronger defense partnership” between the two countries. The meetings, according to another source, are aimed at “exploring avenues for naval cooperation.”
Russia has been one of India’s biggest defense partners, including for supplying warships and submarines, as well as various maritime technologies. The Indian Navy is set to receive two Russian-built guided-missile frigates, according to Indian media reports. One of the frigates, built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, is likely to be delivered to India in September, while another will arrive early next year.
The ships are stealth guided-missile frigates of the Project 11356M class, built with hulls previously used in the Admiral Grigorovich Project 11356R class initially intended for the Russian Navy. They are part of a four-ship deal between Moscow and New Delhi signed in 2018. The other two ships will be built in India, in collaboration with Russia.
All four frigates will be armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, developed together by Moscow and New Delhi. Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, who retired as naval chief in April, stated earlier this year that BrahMos missiles will be the “mainstay” of the Indian Navy as a surface-to-surface system, replacing older missiles from other countries. “It is a very potent missile, and it has been evolving,” he noted.
New Delhi is also expecting delivery of the remaining two (out of a total of five) squadrons of the S-400 Triumph air defense missile systems, which India procured from Russia in 2018 for around $5.43 billion, despite Western pressure and threats of sanctions.