India and Russia have taken another step toward strengthening their defence collaboration by concluding the 5th meeting of the Working Sub-Group on Defence Support in New Delhi.
Held over two days, the discussions centered on improving the sustainment ecosystem for military equipment, particularly focusing on maintenance frameworks, lifecycle support, and efficient supply chain mechanisms. Officials from both sides assessed the performance of existing agreements and identified areas requiring faster execution and better coordination.
The Indian delegation was led by senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, while representatives from Russia’s military-technical cooperation body headed their side. The talks provided a platform to address practical challenges related to servicing and operational upkeep of defence systems currently in use.
A key focus area of the meeting was refining pricing structures and ensuring better predictability in cost-related aspects of defence contracts. Both countries also explored ways to simplify contract management processes, aiming to reduce delays and enhance transparency in ongoing and future agreements.
India’s armed forces rely significantly on platforms of Russian origin, making after-sales support and timely availability of spares critical for maintaining operational readiness. Recognizing this, both sides emphasized the need to build a more responsive and resilient logistics support system.
The meeting was conducted under the broader India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation framework, which continues to guide defence engagement between the two nations.
Over the years, India and Russia have expanded their partnership beyond traditional procurement, increasingly focusing on co-development, joint production, and technology sharing. The latest round of talks reflects a shared intent to modernize defence cooperation in line with evolving strategic requirements.
The outcomes of this meeting are expected to streamline support systems for defence equipment and further reinforce the long-standing military partnership between the two countries.
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