Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Thursday on a two-day state visit aimed at bolstering bilateral economic and military ties, as New Delhi faces heavy US pressure to stop buying oil from Moscow.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Russian leader at an airport in New Delhi, greeting him on the red carpet with a hug before riding together in the same car.

Putin, on his first visit to India since the Ukraine war, is accompanied by his Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, with possible deals on fighter jets and air defence systems expected to be discussed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said talks to expand the supply of Russia's advanced S-400 air defence systems had an "important place on the agenda".

Indian media reports suggested Moscow may also offer co-production of Russia's Su-57 fighter jets.

"The range of our cooperation with India is huge," Putin said in an interview with India Today, citing ship and aircraft manufacturing, nuclear energy and space exploration.

On Friday, Modi and Putin will hold talks as part of the 23rd India-Russia Summit and discuss deepening cooperation, mainly in defence, energy and the mobility of skilled labour.

Putin last visited India in 2021. Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Putin's visit comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 50-percent tariffs on most Indian products in August, citing Delhi's continued purchases of Russian oil, revenue Washington argues helps fund the war in Ukraine. (Agencies)