Rosoboronexport aims to expand technical partnerships in the global market, and where else would it find a more reliable partner than India.
Moscow: In a major move that promises to give a boost to India’s defense sector, the Russian arms company Rosoboronexport (ROE) has confirmed that Russia has offered India the opportunity to develop the destructive R-37M missile. According to the Eurasian Times, ROE has stated that Russia and India are discussing the “joint development and production of modern guided aircraft missiles.”
It is important to note the development comes at a time when Donald Trump is trying to pressure India into acquiring American weapons. ROE also mentioned that discussions are not limited to missile manufacturing alone; both countries are also considering the possibility of selling these missiles to a third country, similar to the BrahMos missile.
ROE has stated that along with the export of weapons, there has been a history of technology transfer between the two countries, and Russia has always provided technological cooperation to India. According to old estimates by Rosoboronexport, by 2030, technological contracts and military products will account for 40 percent of the global market, compared to around 20 percent at present.
Rosoboronexport aims to expand technical partnerships in the global market, and where else would it find a more reliable partner than India.
Local Production of R-73E Missile
According to a report by Eurasian Times, unconfirmed reports during Aero India 2024 suggest that Adani Defence & Aerospace will locally produce R-73E missiles in India. However, there has been no official statement from Adani Defence so far, nor is there any information about this project on the company’s website.
Meanwhile, Russia’s offer of the R-37M—one of the world’s longest-range air-to-air missiles—to India is a welcome deal for the Indian defense sector. NATO has designated this missile as AA-13 Axehead. It is designed to target high-value aerial assets such as fighter jets, AWACS, tanker aircraft, and enemy combat aircraft.
The R-73E missile is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, which means it is known for its ability to attack enemy targets in the air without tracking them. This capability makes the R-73E a deadly weapon against enemies. The R-73E missile can strike targets in the air at a range of 300 to 400 kilometers, making it one of the longest-range air-to-air missiles in the world. It flies at hypersonic speed, with a measured speed of up to Mach 6, which is six times the speed of sound. Additionally, this missile can carry a significant payload of explosives, making it extremely destructive.
