India and Russia Deepen Army-to-Army Cooperation as General Dhiraj Seth Visit Russia

India and Russia have moved to deepen Army-to-Army cooperation following Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth’s three-day official visit to Russia, with discussions covering joint capability development, professional military exchanges, training cooperation, artillery modernisation and the sharing of operational experience.

General Seth visited Russia from 16 to 18 September 2026 as part of continuing military engagement between the two countries. The Ministry of Defence said the visit was aimed at strengthening the longstanding India–Russia defence partnership and expanding military-to-military cooperation.

Talks With Senior Russian Military Leadership

In Moscow, General Seth held discussions with senior members of the Russian defence establishment, including Russian Deputy Defence Minister General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.

The talks focused on joint capability development, professional military exchanges and opportunities to expand direct engagement between the Indian and Russian armies. Both sides also discussed training cooperation and the exchange of professional military experience.

General Seth also engaged with the leadership of the Russian Land Forces. The discussions examined contemporary military developments and areas where institutional cooperation between the two armies could be strengthened.

The engagement is significant because India–Russia defence cooperation has traditionally extended far beyond procurement. Training, maintenance, military education, exercises and long-standing familiarity with Russian-origin platforms have created extensive institutional links between the two armed forces.

Joint Capability Development Comes Into Focus

One of the notable elements of the visit was the emphasis placed on joint capability development.

Rather than restricting discussions to existing equipment or procurement programmes, the engagements addressed how the two armies could strengthen capabilities through professional exchanges, institutional interaction and the sharing of operational experience.

The Ministry of Defence had indicated before the visit that General Seth’s programme would include interaction with senior Russian officials responsible for defence industry and procurement. He was also scheduled to visit Russia’s National Defence Control Centre in Moscow, providing an opportunity to exchange perspectives on contemporary military developments and possible areas of future defence cooperation.

The discussions come at a time when modern warfare is increasingly shaped by the integration of unmanned systems, electronic warfare, precision weapons, battlefield surveillance, long-range fires and networked command systems. Experience from recent conflicts has therefore made operational learning and capability development increasingly important components of military-to-military engagement.

Artillery Modernisation Discussed in St Petersburg

A major operational component of General Seth’s visit came in St Petersburg, where he visited the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy.

The Army Chief interacted with the academy’s leadership and faculty on artillery training methodologies and modernisation. The discussions provided both sides with an opportunity to exchange professional perspectives on evolving artillery doctrine, training and capability development.

Artillery remains one of the most important components of land warfare, particularly as armies move towards longer-range precision fires, rapid target acquisition, improved battlefield surveillance and tighter integration between guns, rockets, drones and command networks.

For the Indian Army, artillery modernisation is already a major transformation programme involving new indigenous gun systems, rocket artillery, precision munitions, surveillance systems and digital fire-control networks. Engagement with established military institutions such as the Mikhailovskaya Academy adds a professional and doctrinal dimension to that process.

Sharing Operational Experience

The visit also placed emphasis on the sharing of operational experience.

Military forces around the world are closely studying lessons emerging from contemporary conflicts, including the growing influence of drones, loitering munitions, electronic warfare, counter-battery systems, precision fires and battlefield transparency.

Professional exchanges allow armies to compare operational approaches without necessarily translating those discussions into specific procurement decisions.

General Seth’s engagements therefore reflected a wider shift in modern defence diplomacy, where military cooperation increasingly includes doctrine, training, combat experience and institutional learning alongside traditional equipment-related ties.

Engagement With Russia’s Defence Industry Establishment

The Ministry of Defence had also included interaction with senior Russian officials dealing with defence industry and procurement in General Seth’s programme.

Such discussions remain relevant because a substantial portion of India’s existing military inventory has Russian or Soviet origins. India continues to operate Russian-origin fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, air-defence systems, submarines and other platforms across the three services.

At the same time, India has increasingly sought to move towards domestic production, technology transfer, joint development and localisation under its broader defence indigenisation programme.

Future India–Russia defence cooperation is therefore increasingly likely to involve maintenance, upgrades, localisation and collaborative capability development alongside conventional acquisition.

Visit to the National Defence Control Centre

General Seth’s programme also included the National Defence Control Centre in Moscow, one of Russia’s principal institutions for coordinating national defence activities.

The Ministry of Defence said the engagements were intended to facilitate an exchange of views on contemporary military developments and examine opportunities for expanding defence cooperation.

The interaction added a strategic dimension to the visit by allowing discussion beyond individual weapon systems and training establishments.

Military Diplomacy Remains an Important Pillar

General Seth also received a ceremonial Guard of Honour and paid homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow.

Such engagements form part of the institutional military diplomacy maintained between India and Russia over several decades. The relationship has continued through changes in the international security environment and alongside India’s expanding defence partnerships with other countries.

The Ministry of Defence described sustained military diplomacy and Army-to-Army engagement as important elements of the bilateral defence relationship.

From Equipment Relationship to Broader Military Cooperation

India–Russia defence ties have historically been associated with major Russian-origin platforms in Indian service. The latest Army Chief-level engagement, however, illustrates the wider institutional relationship that has developed around training, professional military education, capability development and operational exchanges.

General Seth’s Russia visit brought these areas together through engagements with senior military leadership, defence-industry officials and specialist institutions such as the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy.

The emphasis on joint capability development and artillery modernisation is particularly relevant as the Indian Army continues its transition towards longer-range precision fires, greater battlefield digitisation and increasingly integrated combat formations.

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References

Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence — “COAS General Dhiraj Seth Embarks on an Official Visit to Russia,” 16 September 2026.

Akashvani News — “Chief of Army Staff, General Dhiraj Seth begins 3-day official visit to Russia,” 16 September 2026.

Akashvani News — “Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth Meets Russian Deputy Defence Minister in Moscow,” 18 September 2026.

Indian Army statements reported following the conclusion of General Dhiraj Seth’s Russia visit, 19 September 2026.

Indian Army update on General Dhiraj Seth’s visit to the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy, St Petersburg, 19 September 2026.

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