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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Arms deals: India moves away from Russia; Pakistan from the U.S.
While India effectively utilised many of its indigenous defence systems during Operation Sindoor, it also relied on weapons built in collaboration with Israel, such as the SkyStriker drone, and those imported from Russia, such as the Pechora and OSA-AK missiles. Pakistan used Chinese-origin PL-15 missiles and Turkish-origin Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. An analysis of arms transfer data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that over the past decade, there has been a significant shift in the sourcing of weapons for both India and Pakistan. India has gradually reduced its dependence on Russia and has increasingly turned to Western countries such as France, the U.S., and the U.K. A significant portion of its arms imports also comes from Israel. The data reflect the quantity of weapons imported, without accounting for their firepower or operational role. Chart 1A shows the country-wise share of India's defence imports. Staring from the 1960s, India began to consistently source more than 33% of its weapons from Russia (formerly the Soviet Union). This dependence peaked in the 1990s, when Russia accounted for an overwhelming 96.5% of India's imports. From then, Russia's share steadily dropped, falling to a still substantial 75% in the 2020s. This drop was offset by increased imports from other countries: in the 2020s, France accounted for over 9%, the U.K. for 5.5%, Israel for nearly 5%, and the U.S. for close to 3% of India's weapons imports. In contrast, Pakistan has historically sourced the majority of its weapons from both China and the U.S. over several decades. However, in the 2020s, China has emerged as Pakistan's dominant arms supplier. Chart 1B illustrates the country-wise share of Pakistan's defence imports. In the 2020s, nearly 95% of Pakistan's arms imports came from China, marking a sharp rise from 41% in the 2010s and just 19% in the 2000s. Meanwhile, the U.S.'s share declined from nearly 67% in the 2000s to 38% in the 2010s to merely 0.85% in the 2020s. Apart from overall arms procurement, specific weapons and aircraft were also points of discussion during the recent conflict. The Indian Air Force played a crucial role in 'delivering precision strikes against terror infrastructure across Pakistan'. Additionally, the IAF's control of the airspace proved 'pivotal in protecting Indian airspace during retaliatory drone and UAV attacks'. Chart 2A shows the country-wise share of India's imports of weapons related to air power. Chart 2B shows the country-wise share of Pakistan's imports of weapons related to air power. India's dependence on countries apart from Russia is even more evident in this regard. In the 2020s, India has procured more than 55% of its weapons related to air power from France, the U.K., and Israel. Pakistan's dependence on China is also even more pronounced in this regard. Over the past three decades, between 50% and 85% of Pakistan's air-related imports have come from China. While the U.S.'s share in Pakistan's arms imports has significantly declined and its share in India's imports is only gradually rising, the superpower continues to dominate global arms exports overall. Chart 3 shows the country-wise share of global arms exports (in %). In the 2020s, more than 65% of the world's arms exports originated from the U.S. Russia's share has dwindled to 5% in the 2020s, which coincides with its invasion of Ukraine. Interestingly, China accounts for less than 2% of total exports worldwide in the 2020s. A significant portion of its limited exports (33%) is directed to Pakistan. Chart 4 shows shows the country-wise share of China's defence exports. Source: SIPRI vignesh.r@
India.com
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistani Analyst Admits India's Defence Dominance, Says, ‘We're No Match Without S-400'
Pakistan, in the aftermath of 'Operation Sindoor', finds itself confronting harsh realities about its air defence and drone warfare capabilities. Recent Indian drone and missile strikes, which devastated key military sites across the border, have laid bare serious weaknesses in Pakistan's defence setup – prompting calls from within to urgently modernise and rethink its strategic posture. Well-known Pakistani strategic analyst Dr. Qamar Cheema bluntly described Pakistan's predicament, 'Our current defence systems are not equipped to handle the new generation of warfare. We desperately need advanced models like S-400. Without them, we remain vulnerable to Indian aerial dominance.' His observations highlight how Indian forces reportedly breezed past Pakistan's Chinese-made air defence systems, causing confusion and panic. The Indian Air Force's rapid and precise strikes targeted radar installations, command centres and ammunition depots at multiple locations including Lahore, Chaklala and Bholari. These strikes neutralised Pakistan's Pechora and OSA-AK missile systems and even destroyed Chinese-supplied air defence units in Lahore and Chaklala. The use of India's indigenous Akash missile system, equipped with sophisticated electronic counter-countermeasures, further demonstrated New Delhi's growing technological edge. Pakistan's own military leadership has acknowledged the damage inflicted. Retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar confirmed the loss of a vital AWACS aircraft at Bholari airbase. He emphasised the severity of the strikes and the challenges faced by Pakistani pilots under missile attack. Cheema warned that future conflicts will heavily rely on technology – drones, electronic warfare and cutting-edge air defence systems. 'This is not just a conventional war. It is a battle for technological superiority. Pakistan must urgently develop indigenous capabilities and invest in drone countermeasures before it is too late,' he said. Operation Sindoor has thus served as a reminder for Pakistan: adapting to modern warfare demands far more than traditional weaponry. India currently holds a clear advantage in the modern warfare.
