Defence cooperation is an important pillar of the India-Russia strategic partnership
The third India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub-Working Group meeting was held in New Delhi on June 26-27, 2024, to further enhance defence cooperation and joint exercises between the two nations. The Indian Army and Russia's Land Forces participated in this.
 
The talks focused on defence cooperation, military training, military education and joint exercises between the two Armies.
 
"3rd #India #Russia Inter Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub Working Group (Land) Meeting between #IndianArmy & #LandForces, Russian Federation was held at #NewDelhi from 26-27 Jun 2024. The Talks focused on defence cooperation, military training, military education & joint exercises between the two Armies," the Indian Army posted on X, formerly Twitter. 
 
Joint military exercises between the three services of the Armed Forces of India and Russia are held bi-annually under the title "INDRA". Russia is the only country with which India has a full tri-service military exercise.
 
Robust India-Russia Defence Cooperation 
 
Defence cooperation is an important pillar of the India-Russia strategic partnership. It is guided by the Programme for Military Technical Cooperation signed between the two countries.
 
India and Russia have an institutionalized structure to oversee the complete range of issues of military technical cooperation. The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), set up in 2000, is at the apex of this structure. 
 
The two Defence Ministers meet annually, alternately in Russia and India, to discuss and review the status of ongoing projects and other issues of military technical cooperation. There are two Working Groups and seven Sub-Groups under the IRIGC-MTC, which review and discuss an array of military technical issues. 
 
Russia is also among a select group of countries with which India has a 2+2 Dialogue attended by foreign ministers and defence ministers from both sides, the others being the US, Japan, and Australia. The inaugural India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue was held in New Delhi on December 6, 2021.
 
Over the years, cooperation in the military technical sphere has evolved from a purely buyer-seller relationship to joint research, design development and production of state-of-the-art military platforms. Production of the Brahmos cruise missile is an example of this trend. Another joint venture, the Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), has started production of AK-203 rifles in India under the 'Make in India' initiative.