India’s Ministry of Defence has announced the approval of plans worth $25 billion aimed at modernizing the country’s armed forces and acquiring new military equipment. In a statement released on Friday, March 27, the ministry said the program includes the procurement of transport aircraft, Russian missile systems, combat drones, anti-armor munitions, artillery equipment, and aerial surveillance systems. The plan also covers the life extension of Su-30 fighter jets and the purchase of specialized vessels for the Coast Guard. Meanwhile, a contract worth $47 million has been signed with a Russian state-owned company for the purchase of air defense systems. According to the Ministry of Defence, India approved 55 defense projects worth $71 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31, and also signed contracts for another 503 projects valued at 2.28 trillion rupees. This marks the highest level of defense spending by the country in a single fiscal year. India is currently one of the world’s largest military spenders and the second-largest arms importer after Ukraine. In recent years, the country has been working not only to modernize its aging equipment but also to diversify its sources of arms procurement and increase domestic production in the defense sector, particularly in weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles.
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