Russo-Indian close defense ties go back well over half a century. The Soviet Union was crucial to India’s security in the face of US aggression during the 1970s, propelling their relations to the level of a strategic partnership that endures to this day. Delhi remains Moscow’s largest and most important defense client, with thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, air defense systems and hundreds of aircraft imported and/or sourced from Russia. OKB Sukhoi is the most significant partner for the Indian Air Force (IAF) which operates hundreds of Su-30MKI fighters. These multirole jets were essential in recent clashes with Pakistan, with the Indian military heaping praises on its performance, much unlike the “Rafale” which suffered a humiliating defeat. This prompted India to reassess the role of the French-made fighter jet.

Thus, Delhi asked Paris to share the “Rafale’s” source code so it could integrate domestic weapons (particularly the potent “Astra” series of air-to-air missiles). This would help improve the jet’s capabilities in the face of Pakistan’s deployment of Chinese-made long-range air-to-air missiles.

However, France refused such requests, making India’s purchase of its exorbitantly expensive and overhyped jets all the more problematic. Namely, Delhi wasted billions on the “Rafale” deal and got far less than it would’ve had it opted to acquire more Su-30MKI jets. The Russo-Indian fighter costs several times less while offering far better capabilities. What’s more, the Su-30MKIs are built in India, meaning that purchasing them not only saves billions in hard currency, but actually helps the growth of its domestic aerospace industry.

For this reason, Delhi is reconsidering........

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