India and Russia are reinforcing their long-standing defence partnership through renewed military-level engagement and wider cooperation in defence technology and industrial production.
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth is visiting Russia from September 16 to 18, 2026, with the visit focused on strengthening military-to-military relations between the two countries. The Ministry of Defence said the engagement will cover professional military cooperation, training and other areas of mutual interest.
During his visit, General Seth is meeting Colonel General Andrei Nikolayevich Mordvichev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces. He is also scheduled to interact with senior officials of Russia’s Ministry of Defence, including Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Sergeyevich Osmakov, who handles defence industry and procurement-related matters.
The Army Chief is also visiting Russia’s National Defence Control Centre in Moscow and the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy in Saint Petersburg. These engagements are intended to support professional exchanges and provide opportunities to discuss contemporary military developments and future areas of cooperation.
The latest engagement comes as the India-Russia defence relationship continues to move beyond the traditional supply of military equipment. Both countries have been working toward greater joint research, development and production of advanced defence systems. Their official annual summit statement has also highlighted joint manufacturing in India of spare parts and components for Russian-origin equipment through technology transfer and joint ventures.
BrahMos is one of the key examples of this broader cooperation, while platforms such as the Su-30MKI and T-90 have also involved significant Indian production or assembly. The partnership is increasingly connected with India’s efforts to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and improve support for equipment already operated by its armed forces.
The current discussions also come shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks in New Delhi, where defence cooperation remained part of the wider India-Russia strategic relationship.
General Seth’s visit therefore provides another platform for both sides to maintain military dialogue while examining opportunities in defence industry, technology, training and equipment modernisation.
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