Russia reveals India's big asks ahead of Modi-Putin meet: Su-57 tech, nuclear plants and more
A bilateral meeting between India and Russia is scheduled ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit being hosted by India in New Delhi.
The discussion agenda includes a Russian offer relating to Su-57 fighter jet technology, cooperation on new nuclear power plants, and continued trade and economic collaboration.
Russia has offered India licensed local production of the Su-57 with technology transfer, positioning it as an interim platform alongside India's indigenous fifth-generation fighter programme.
On the civil nuclear track, discussions are expected to cover a new nuclear power plant site beyond the existing Kudankulam project, as well as cooperation on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
BRICS as a Plurilateral Grouping
BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies that functions outside the Bretton Woods institutional framework, giving India a platform for South-South and multipolar diplomacy distinct from Western-led forums.
Key Details
- Founded in 2009 as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China); South Africa joined in 2010, forming BRICS.
- Expanded in January 2024 to add Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, taking membership to 10 (with Saudi Arabia's accession status evolving); the expanded bloc represents roughly 46% of world population and about 36% of global GDP (PPP).
- India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (September 12-13, 2026) as the 2026 BRICS Chair, under the theme "Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."
- Institutional offshoots include the New Development Bank (NDB, headquartered in Shanghai) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), both created to reduce reliance on the IMF/World Bank system.
The Modi-Putin bilateral meeting is being held on the margins of the BRICS Summit, illustrating how plurilateral summits like BRICS also serve as venues for parallel bilateral diplomacy between member states.
India's Defence Procurement Categories and the Su-57 Offer
India's defence acquisition process is governed by the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), which classifies procurement into categories based on the extent of indigenous content and technology transfer — directly relevant to evaluating an offer like the Su-57.
Key Details
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Raksha Mantri, is the apex body approving capital acquisitions; high-value proposals subsequently require Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) clearance.
- Procurement categories under DAP 2020 include Buy (Indian-IDDM), Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian), and Buy (Global), with preference given to categories involving higher indigenous design and technology transfer.
- The Su-57 (NATO reporting name "Felon") is a Russian twin-engine fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Sukhoi; Russia's current offer involves licensed production of over 100 units in India with technology transfer, potentially through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- This is distinct from India's indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, a fifth-generation stealth fighter under development by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL, which the Su-57 offer is pitched as a bridge/interim solution alongside rather than a replacement for.
The Su-57 discussion tests understanding of how defence deals are evaluated on the Buy/Make/technology-transfer spectrum, and how an import offer interacts with India's parallel indigenous fifth-generation fighter development.
India's Civil Nuclear Cooperation Framework and Kudankulam
India's civil nuclear energy expansion with foreign partners operates within a specific legal liability framework that has historically limited which countries can supply reactors.
Key Details
- The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (Tamil Nadu) uses Russian-designed VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors; Units 1 and 2 are in commercial operation (since 2014 and 2017 respectively), with Units 3-6 under various stages of construction — the only complete instance of foreign reactor supply in India, predating India's nuclear liability law.
- The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 established a no-fault liability regime channelling primary liability to the plant operator (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited), but Section 17 allows the operator a right of recourse against suppliers in case of defective equipment or sub-standard services — a provision that deterred some foreign suppliers (e.g., US firms) from finalising deals.
- Russia's Rosatom has continued nuclear cooperation with India despite the liability provision, and discussions now extend to a new nuclear power plant site (beyond Kudankulam) and cooperation on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), including work already begun with an Indian state power utility on a thorium-fuelled SMR.
The nuclear plant discussion at the bilateral meeting builds on the pre-existing Kudankulam framework and signals expansion of India-Russia civil nuclear cooperation into new reactor sites and next-generation SMR technology.
- 18th BRICS Summit: New Delhi, September 12-13, 2026, hosted by India as BRICS Chair
- BRICS founded 2009 (Brazil, Russia, India, China); South Africa joined 2010; expanded January 2024 to add Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE
- Kudankulam Units 1 and 2: commercial operation since 2014 and 2017; Units 3-6 under construction using Russian VVER-1000 reactors
- Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act enacted 2010; Section 17 provides operator's right of recourse against suppliers
- Su-57: Russian fifth-generation stealth fighter (Sukhoi); current Russian offer covers licensed local production exceeding 100 units with technology transfer
- India's indigenous fifth-generation fighter programme: Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), under ADA/HAL development