Strategic autonomy in Indian defence procurement

Why does India continue buying Russian defence equipment when some indigenous systems appear more effective?

Price, independence from Western alliance systems, and India's bargaining position with Russia help explain the choice, even when equipment performance is criticized.

Russian equipment is presented as relatively cheap and as a way for India to avoid tighter dependence on a Western alliance. India's economic weight also gives it bargaining power over Russian suppliers and an opportunity to seek support for its own industry. Buying from Sweden or South Korea would still leave dependence on Western components. Argentina's interest in Gripen supplies the example of a buyer facing permissions attached to British-made equipment. India is treated differently: its P-8 purchases and a reported F-35 offer are cited as evidence that Western equipment was available to it, despite difficulties in the past. Replacing an aircraft's radar to change its component suppliers requires work on communications, electronics, weight, and systems integration. Cooperation with Western firms also raises a personnel problem when skilled Indian engineers take jobs with the partner companies.