Although there is a tense calm along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China, with both militaries facing off and heavily armed, one common trend for the rivals is a shift towards reducing arms imports and focussing more on domestic defence production. India and China, the two biggest powers in Asia, have historically been among the world’s top buyers of weapons. However, in recent years, their strategies for military procurement and self-reliance have taken different paths.AdvertisementAccording to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), India remains the world’s second-largest arms importer, while China has significantly cut down its dependence on foreign weapons.India’s defence importsIndia has traditionally depended on foreign weapons for its defence needs, but recent trends show a change in how it sources its arms. According to data from the Sipri for 2020–24, India’s overall arms imports dropped by 11 per cent compared to the previous five-year period (2015–19). However, this shift does not indicate reduced dependence on foreign weapons but rather a diversification of suppliers.Russia was once India’s main arms provider, supplying 72 per cent of its weapons between 2010 and 2014. By 2020–24, this share had fallen to 36 per cent, as India actively worked to reduce its dependence on Moscow. During this period, France became a major supplier, with 29 per cent share in India’s arms imports. This rise is largely due to India’s purchase of Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines strengthening its air and naval forces. This shift in suppliers is partly influenced by India’s growing strategic ties with Western countries amid China’s growing assertiveness along the borders and in the Indo-Pacific region.China’s reverse engineering and ethicsOver the past decade, China has significantly reduced its arms imports with Sipri data showing a 64 per cent decline. This shift highlights Beijing’s push for self-reliance in defence backed by extensive investments in domestic research and development. One key factor in China’s progress has been its acquisition and adaptation of foreign military technology, particularly from Russia. For example, China obtained the Su-27 fighter jet and used it as the foundation for developing its own version, the J-11, strengthening its domestic defence industry.AdvertisementHowever, this approach has sparked controversy with concerns over China’s use of unauthorised reverse engineering.Copying Russian fighter jets: The J-11, J-15 and J-16Brent M Eastwood, 1945’s Defence and National Security Editor, explains in his piece J-11 Fighter: How China Copied Russia’s Su-27 (And Made it Better?) that the J-11’s origins trace back to a 1995 agreement allowing China to manufacture 200 units using Russian kits. However, after the licensing agreement ended, China allegedly continued production without Russian authorisation leading to tensions with Moscow. Russia had intended to remain the supplier of engines and avionics, but China moved ahead with its own versions instead.AdvertisementA similar pattern emerged with the J-15 “Flying Shark,” which was based on the Su-33, Russia’s navalised variant of the Su-27. According to Sebastien Roblin in The National Interest in July 2016, after Russia refused to sell two Su-33 jets to China for $100 million in 2006, Beijing instead acquired a prototype from Ukraine in 2001. By 2009, China had successfully developed the J-15, which later performed its first carrier landing on the Liaoning in 2012.Another Chinese jet, the J-16 “Red Eagle,” is a modified version of the two-seat Su-30MKK, tailored to handle Chinese weapons. China had originally procured 73 Su-30MKKs from Russia between 2000 and 2003, followed by 24 Su-30MKK2s in 2004, which were optimised for anti-ship warfare. The J-16, however, is an indigenous upgrade incorporating Chinese-made avionics and weapons systems.AdvertisementChina’s most advanced stealth fighters, the J-20 “Mighty Dragon” and the upcoming Shenyang FC-31, have also faced accusations of incorporating stolen design elements. Alex Hollings, in The National Interest in June 2024 reported that these aircraft likely include technology derived from US and Russian programs. In 2016, a Chinese national, Su Bin, was convicted of conspiring to steal sensitive military information, including designs for the F-22 and F-35, for China’s military. Russian concerns about technological duplication stem from similarities between the J-20 and the defunct MiG 1.44 programme.Despite the controversy, the J-20 showcases China’s rapid military advancements, though its combat effectiveness against American stealth fighters remains uncertain.AdvertisementExpanding domestic production and global influenceBeyond modifying foreign technology, China has heavily invested in its own military production, significantly reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. Today, it is not only self-sufficient but also the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter, trailing only the United States, Russia and France. Chinese defence firms have successfully developed and sold a variety of military hardware including the JF-17 fighter jet and advanced drones, primarily to Pakistan. This has allowed Beijing to lessen its dependence on Russian technology while expanding its geopolitical influence through arms exports.Atmanirbhar Bharat push for IndiaIndia has realised the risks of depending too much on foreign arms suppliers and has started working towards self-reliance through its Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The government has taken important steps to boost domestic defence production such as raising the limit for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector and introducing the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which gives priority to locally made equipment.However, India still faces many challenges in becoming fully self-sufficient. While it has made progress in building its own fighter jets like the HAL Tejas, as well as missile systems and warships, it still depends on foreign technology for crucial parts like jet engines, advanced avionics and submarines. In contrast, China has managed to overcome these gaps by investing heavily in research and development (R&D) and acquiring key technologies. As a result, India still imports nearly half of its military equipment.India’s arms procurement amid border tensionsIndia’s approach to arms procurement has been heavily influenced by ongoing border tensions with China, especially after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been rapidly building infrastructure along the LAC prompting India to accelerate its acquisition of advanced weapon systems. However, the urgency of these procurements highlights India’s continued reliance on foreign suppliers as domestic alternatives are often unavailable in sufficient numbers or lack technological sophistication.China’s military expansion in the region has further pushed India to strengthen its defence ties with the United States and France. The purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France and the increasing acquisition of American surveillance drones and aircraft reflect India’s efforts to counter China’s growing military presence. While these partnerships indicate a shift in India’s geopolitical strategy, they also raise concerns about long-term dependency on foreign defence manufacturers—a challenge that China has largely overcome by boosting, though through what experts call ’engineering theft’, its indigenous defence industry.China’s self-reliance has also turned it into a global arms exporter. Beijing’s ability to supply affordable and relatively advanced military equipment has allowed it to expand its influence, particularly in South Asia and Africa. Pakistan, China’s closest military ally, now sources 81 per cent of its arms imports from China, further strengthening the strategic China-Pakistan axis. This growing military cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad poses a direct challenge to India reinforcing the need for New Delhi to expedite its domestic defence production capabilities.India has also made progress in exporting defence equipment, though modest compared to other big players. While the Indian defence sector has seen increased exports in recent years, particularly with indigenous missile systems and aircraft, it still lags behind China in terms of global reach and volume. One of the key obstacles remains the relatively high cost and limited production capacity of Indian defence manufacturers compared to their Chinese counterparts.India’s path to true self-relianceIndia’s ongoing efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign arms suppliers represent a crucial step toward strategic autonomy. The diversification of its defence imports and the push for indigenous manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat signal a long-term commitment to self-reliance. However, challenges remain, particularly in closing technological gaps in critical areas such as fighter jet engines.While India has not adopted the China route of ‘stealing’ blueprints, true self-reliance can only be achieved through a sustained commitment to domestic innovation. As regional security dynamics continue to evolve, India’s ability to develop and manufacture its own advanced weapon systems will be crucial in maintaining strategic parity with China.More from India
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Copycat fighters: What Sipri report doesn’t tell about China’s defence manufacturing sector
