Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth began an official three-day visit to Russia on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening the long-standing India-Russia defence partnership and military-to-military ties. The visit runs from September 16 to 18.
In Moscow, General Seth will receive a ceremonial Guard of Honour and pay tribute to fallen soldiers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He is also scheduled to hold talks with Colonel General Andrei Nikolayevich Mordvichev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces, on professional military cooperation and training, and will visit the National Defence Control Centre, meeting Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Sergeyevich Osmakov to discuss defence industry and procurement.
The trip will also take him to Saint Petersburg, where he is due to visit the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy. It is the first visit by an Indian Army chief to Russia in six years, and reports indicate talks will touch on spare parts, air defence systems, BMP-3 infantry vehicles and future battle tank programmes — significant given that nearly the entire Armoured Corps and Mechanised Infantry of the Indian Army run on Russian-origin systems.
The Ministry of Defence said the visit reflects the importance both countries attach to sustained military diplomacy and Army-to-Army engagement.
