India and Russia's defence partnership is expected to draw renewed attention ahead of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the summit, with defence cooperation likely to feature among the broader areas of bilateral engagement.

India is chairing BRICS in 2026 and will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

India and Russia have maintained a long-standing defence partnership spanning fighter aircraft, missiles, armoured vehicles and other military systems. The Su-30MKI, BrahMos and T-90 programmes are among the major examples of this cooperation.

Major Su-30MKI modernisation

India is pursuing a major modernisation programme for its Su-30MKI fighter fleet. Recent reports have referred to the 'Super Sukhoi' programme, under which 84 aircraft are planned for extensive upgrades involving advanced radar, avionics, longer-range weapons and improved sensor fusion.

The project has been estimated in reports at around Rs 60,000-65,000 crore. The objective is to significantly improve the combat capabilities of the Su-30MKI fleet and keep the aircraft relevant for decades to come.

The proposed upgrades are expected to improve detection, targeting, electronic warfare and situational awareness.

It is important to distinguish the reported figures, however. Some reports and headlines have referred to more than 100 aircraft, while recent reporting on the major Super Sukhoi programme has referred to 84 aircraft. Therefore, the final number and terms of any possible agreement cannot be treated as confirmed without an official announcement.

 Russia's Su-57 offer

The second major area of interest is Russia's fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter.

In June 2026, Putin publicly said Russia was ready to jointly develop and produce the Su-57 with India and was prepared to share advanced technologies. Moscow has also indicated its willingness to support local production and deeper technological cooperation.

The Su-57 is Russia's fifth-generation stealth fighter. India currently does not operate a fifth-generation fighter, while its indigenous AMCA programme remains under development. This has made the question of an interim or collaborative fifth-generation capability strategically significant.

Russia has repeatedly pitched the Su-57 to India, including the possibility of joint production and technology cooperation. India, however, has not publicly announced a final decision to purchase or jointly develop the aircraft.

 Why could the Su-57 matter to India?

India's air force faces a continuing requirement to modernise its fighter fleet and strengthen its combat capability. Fifth-generation technology is therefore an important part of India's long-term air-power planning.

Russia's proposal goes beyond a simple aircraft sale. Moscow has spoken about joint production, technology transfer and integrating Indian systems into the aircraft. Such an approach could fit with India's broader push for domestic defence manufacturing and greater technological self-reliance.

 India-Russia defence partnership

The India-Russia defence relationship has gradually moved beyond a conventional buyer-seller model toward licensed production, joint development and co-production.

Government records highlight cooperation in areas including BrahMos, Su-30MKI and T-90 production, while more recent official material notes continued cooperation on Su-30MKI upgrades and broader defence technology collaboration.

If substantial progress is made on these proposals during the BRICS Summit, it could have implications not only for India's air-power modernisation but also for the broader strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow.

 Will a deal be signed at BRICS?

At this stage, it would be premature to say that a final agreement on the Su-30MKI upgrade or Su-57 will definitely be signed during Putin's visit.

Available information confirms that Russia has made a strong Su-57 offer and that India continues to pursue Su-30MKI modernisation, but any final contract would require an official announcement.

The BRICS Summit could therefore become an important platform for advancing India-Russia defence discussions, but the details of any final agreement will need to be confirmed by the governments involved.