For decades, Russian platforms have been the mainstay of the Indian Navy. India is now looking to partner with Germany to build its future submarine fleet. However, for its existing Russian-origin submarines, India has inked a contract to acquire sub-launched anti-ship cruise missiles from Moscow.
After a five-year hiatus, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia twice in 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India in 2025.
Days after shortlisting German TKMS’s bid for building six submarines in India, the Indian defense Ministry announced the signing of a contract with Russia for the procurement of anti-ship cruise missiles.
The Indian Navy’s Russian submarine fleet included INS Sindhughosh, INS Sindhudhvaj, INS Sindhuraj, INS Sindhuvir, INS Sindhuratna, INS Sindhukesari, INS Sindhukirti, INS Sindhuvijay, INS Sindhurakshak, and INS Sindhushastra. Now, INS Sindhudhvaj, INS Sindhurakshak, and INS Sindhuvir are no longer in service, and two more submarines are expected to retire in the next two to three years.
“The Ministry of Defence today inked a contract with Russia for the procurement of Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi. These missiles will significantly augment the combat capabilities of the Indian Navy’s submarine fleet,” the Indian Ministry of Defense wrote on X.
Both sides refrained from naming the family and the number of missiles to be procured. The missiles will be carried by the Russian Kilo-class (Sindhughosh-class) diesel-electric submarines in service of the Indian Navy.
However, a look at the Russian missile system indicates that it is likely to be the export variant of Kalibr missiles.
The 3M-54 Klub-S variant is capable of engaging both naval and land targets. It can accelerate to supersonic speeds in the terminal phase, making it difficult for enemy defenses to intercept.
It cruises at an altitude of 10-15 meters, reducing the reaction time for enemy defenses. It has a modular design, and it shares common parts with other variants in the Kalibr family.
It can be launched from Kilo-class, Lada-class, Akula-class, Yasen-class and Borei-class submarines. It is also deployed on surface ships like Admiral Gorshkov-class, Admiral Grigorovich-class, Gepard-class, Gremyashchy-class, and Buyan-M-class ships.
The 3M-54 Klub-S missile enhances the combat capabilities of submarines by providing them with a long-range, precision strike capability against both naval and land targets. Its advanced guidance system and supersonic sprint make it a formidable weapon in modern naval warfare.
The Klub missile is already in service with the Indian Navy. It is deployed on the Indian Navy’s Kilo-class submarines and six Talwar-class frigates.
The deal to purchase Klub missiles has been one of the few defense pacts that has fructified since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.
India-Russia Defense Ties
The inventories of India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force are equipped with the majority of Russian weapon systems.
The Indian Army possesses an estimated 2,400 T-72 and 1000 T-90 main battle tanks, 2,400 BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, 150 BM-21 and 42 BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket-launch systems, and several dozen mobile and static air defense systems of Russian origin.
The Indian Navy has seven Sindhughosh-class (previously Soviet Kilo-class) attack submarines, one Vikrant-class (previously Soviet Kiev-class) aircraft carrier, three Rajput-class (previously Soviet Kashin-class) guided-missile destroyers, six Talwar-class frigates (previously Soviet Krivak-class) frigates, one Abhay-class (previously Soviet Pauk-class) corvette, three Kumbhir-class (previously Soviet-Polish Polnocny-class) amphibious warfare vessels, and one Jyoti class (previously Soviet Komandarm Fedko-class) replenishment tanker. In addition, the Indian Navy utilizes more than 40 MiG-29 multirole fighters, three Il-38 aircraft, and a dozen Ka-28 helicopters in anti-submarine and maritime patrol roles.
The Indian Air Force has more than 60 MiG-29s, 50 MiG-21s, and 260 Su-30s in various combat roles, six Il-78 aerial tankers, 17 Il-76 heavy transports, more than 100 An-32 medium transports, over a dozen Mi-24 attack helicopter variants, and more than 200 Mi-17 transport helicopters.
A few months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Indian government canceled or halted a number of deals with Russia to purchase new or updated weapon equipment. On April 16, 2022, the Indian Air Force canceled its plans to buy 48 Mi-17 V5 helicopters from Russia, marking the first deal cancellation.
The deal was ostensibly canceled to boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative and achieve self-sufficiency in the defense industry. On April 18, 2022, the Indian Ministry of Defence started a four-day conference to examine the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the supply chain of weapons and equipment to India.
Following this, several deals were canceled. On May 8, the IAF announced the cancellation of the deal to upgrade its fleet of 80 Russian Su-30MKI fighters, citing logistical problems arising from the war in Ukraine.
On May 17, the Indian government announced that it was suspending negotiations to acquire 10 Russian Ka-31 airborne early warning and control helicopters for its Navy. The Indian Navy operates 14 Ka-31s and wanted to seek additional platforms. However, sanctions against Russia made New Delhi skeptical of Russia’s ability to deliver.
The Indian Army and Air Force need to replace Vintage Chetak and Cheetah light combat and light utility helicopters that operate in high-altitude regions.
In addition to the few indigenous light utility helicopters that Indian aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had already provided to the forces, India intended to acquire 200 Russian Ka-226T helicopters to supplement the HAL fleet. However, because of practical difficulties brought on by the conflict in Ukraine, the talks were called off in July 2022.
Earlier, Russian submarine designer and builder Rubin Design Bureau withdrew its bid to build six submarines for the Indian Navy on August 15, 2022, claiming that the concept was unachievable.
The bureau’s deputy director claimed that the costs and requirements for building in India, the technology transfer, and the consequences for missing deadlines were excessive.
The withdrawal from the plan was not specifically attributed to the conflict in Ukraine. Still, it was another example of Russia and India not being able to agree on the terms of a defense deal after the start of the war.
