As part of their ongoing military cooperation, India and russia have signed a new $47 million contract for Tunguska air defense systems. Initial media reports suggest that the contract involves the delivery of additional units of this system to the Indian Army.
However, the russian Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies noted on its unofficial blog, BMPD, that the contract covers only the supply of components for India's Tunguska systems, worth $47 million. No further details regarding this agreement are publicly available.
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India was the largest export customer for the Tunguska air defense system. In total, 66 units were delivered between 1995 and 2012, including 24 of the 2S6M Tunguska-M variant and 42 of the 2S6M1 Tunguska-M1 variant. For comparison, the russian Armed Forces had 240 Tunguska systems of all variants as of early last year.
The Tunguska-M1 differs from the Tunguska-M in its improved electronics and the ability to use upgraded 9M311M missiles, which have an extended range of 10 kilometers against air targets. The Tunguska-M1 variant was adopted by the russian Armed Forces in 2003.
According to open-source data, the Tunguska systems currently in service with the Indian Army are assigned to the 514th Air Defense Regiment. In addition, the Indian Armed Forces also have approximately 75 ZSU-23-4 Shilka systems at their disposal.
There is no publicly available information indicating that India previously purchased components and consumables for its 2S6 Tunguska systems. Therefore, the fact that India has signed a $47 million contract for spare parts for the Tunguska systems seems logical, as the operational readiness of the previously acquired systems must be maintained.
At the same time, the contract fits into a broader trend of India's continued defense cooperation with russia, indirectly supporting the aggressor's capabilities in its full-scale war against Ukraine.
Ivan Kyrychevskyi, serviceman of the 413th Raid Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine and weapons expert at Defense Express.
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