Why Russia’s Export Failures Matter For India

Russia's defense industrial base is weakening due to skilled labor shortages, declining investment, and the economic pressures of its war in Ukraine. The Russian war economy now constitutes a significant portion of its GDP and federal budget, creating supply chain dislocations and a dependency on foreign components. China has become a critical supplier for Russia, providing machinery, electronics, and microchips for key missile systems like the Oreshnik and Iskander-M. This industrial decline is evident in the global arms market, where France has surpassed Russia as the second-largest exporter, raising questions for countries like India that have historically relied on Russian weapons.