Generally speaking, it's cheaper to buy a developed product than to develop them yourself. The domestic option may only work out cheaper in the long run, and that is with the assumption that you are able to do it. In India's case it seems to be a massive money sink right now.Close to Russia, or close to the US, it doesn't matter
For every $ that India spends on foreign procurement, it is one less $ for domestic development for weapons.
I sincerely hope that India goes all out and start buying 100s of Rafales, foreign missiles, ships etc. It doesn't matter.
As long as that money isn't spent on domestic weapons then that's ok with me
Has the Indian domestic military complex been able to develop a single platform independently? Everything I've heard of seems to have a myriad of problems.