Story perspectives

Indian Army chief meets Russian defense officials on upgrades

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 10:21 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

General Dhiraj Seth arrived in Russia for a three-day visit on September 16-18, 2026.
He is the first Indian Army chief in Russia since General Bipin Rawat’s October 2018 trip.
Seth will meet Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev to discuss professional military cooperation and training.
Seth will meet Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov to discuss spare-part supply and upgrades.
He will discuss Russia’s Pantsir-S1M and BMP-3 offers with Osmakov.

History

Historical Context

In October 2018, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat visited Moscow, sealing a $2.5 billion agreement for Russia’s S-400 air-defence system. The deal involved the Ministry of Defence, Russian Defense Ministry, and state-run Rosoboronexport, which delivered 100 missile launchers by 2020. Today, General Dhiraj Seth’s September 2026 trip mirrors Rawat’s mission, meeting Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev and Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov to negotiate Pantsir-S1M and BMP-3 upgrades. The recurring high-level exchanges cement a long-standing Indo-Russian defence partnership, ensuring continued joint production and supply chains through the 2030s.

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Story summary

General Dhiraj Seth arrived in Russia for a three-day visit on September 16-18, 2026.
He is the first Indian Army chief in Russia since General Bipin Rawat’s October 2018 trip.
Seth will meet Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev to discuss professional military cooperation and training.
Seth will meet Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov to discuss spare-part supply and upgrades.
He will discuss Russia’s Pantsir-S1M and BMP-3 offers with Osmakov.

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