India remains one of the world’s largest arms buyers, ranking as the second-biggest importer of major weapons with an 8.2 percent share of global imports, according to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Only conflict-affected Ukraine imported more, accounting for 9.7 percent of worldwide purchases during the same assessment period.
Even as India continues to modernise its armed forces in response to evolving regional and global security challenges, the figures show a gradual reduction in dependence on foreign procurement alongside growth in domestic defence manufacturing. Between 2019 and 2023, India led global imports with nearly 9.8 percent of the total share. Recent estimates, however, indicate that the proportion has declined to about 8.3 percent, reflecting a stronger emphasis on indigenous production and self-reliance initiatives.
The report also highlights shifting supplier patterns in India’s defence acquisitions. Russia remains the largest source of imported arms, contributing around 40 percent of India’s purchases. However, its dominance has weakened compared to earlier years as India broadens its procurement partnerships and reduces reliance on a single supplier.
France has emerged as the second-largest supplier with roughly a 29 percent share. This increase has been driven largely by high-value defence deals, particularly the acquisition of Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. With India negotiating to procure 114 additional Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force, France’s role in India’s defence imports is expected to grow further.
Israel stands as the third-largest contributor, accounting for about 15 percent of India’s imports. Bilateral defence ties between the two countries have strengthened significantly in areas such as missile systems, drones, and advanced surveillance technologies.
The rise of France and Israel in India’s import mix has coincided with a steady decline in Russia’s earlier overwhelming share. Previous assessments showed Russia supplying more than 70 percent of India’s imported arms in the early 2010s, but diversification of partnerships and expanding global collaborations have steadily reshaped procurement patterns.
Overall, the data underscore India’s strategy of simultaneously upgrading its military capabilities and promoting self-sufficiency through domestic manufacturing and technology partnerships. Globally, the arms trade landscape has also shifted due to geopolitical conflicts, with Ukraine’s surge in imports largely driven by extensive military support from Western nations amid its ongoing war.
