Introduction
Recently, Israel and India have significantly enhanced their military collaboration. This integration, which began in a limited capacity through a security relationship established in the early 1990s, has grown tremendously over the years and developed into an extensive strategic defense partnership. The exchange of arms, collaboration on the production of defense, and cooperation in exchanging technological and intelligence capabilities are common activities in this partnership. Historically, Israel has been the leading provider of state-of-the-art military technology.
Meanwhile, India has focused on other ways to develop its own capabilities, specifically in relation to defense manufacturing through its “Make in India” initiative. In addition to supplying Israel with arms, both countries work collaboratively to produce arms for Israel’s military. Numerous Israeli defense companies have established factories in India to produce military equipment within India. Moreover, India supplies materials, including drone components, armaments, bombs, and munitions, to support Israel’s military operations.
In addition, several sections of international media have discussed how India has also developed its own domestic defense industry and has supported Israel during armed conflicts (e.g., Gaza). This article will discuss the interactions between the Indian defense industry and the Israeli defense industry, specifically the production of military equipment by India for use in support of the Israeli defense industry, as well as other interactions between the two nations with respect to defense and the types of military equipment produced by India’s defense industry.
Historical Background of India-Israel Defense Relations
In 1992, India and the state of Israel moved into full diplomatic relations, although this relationship quickly shifted to focus mainly on matters of security. In the early years of this relationship, most of the arms sold from Israel to India were defense-related. Before the Kargil War in 1999, there were already military connections that existed between Israel and India. After the Kargil War, new reports began surfacing that Israel was providing the Indian armed forces with military supplies such as drones and precision munitions. This new level of cooperation helped solidify an existing close working relationship between Israel and India.
Over the last 20 years, Israel has become one of India’s top 10 defense partners. According to defense analysts, Israel has sold approximately 34% of its total value of weapon systems to India between 2020 and 2024. In the past, India bought complete weapon systems from Israel, including drones, missile systems, and radar. As India continues to improve its defense industry and high technology capabilities, it has now moved beyond being a pure buyer or consumer of equipment from Israel and has entered into joint defense cooperation projects with Israel.
Furthermore, India is currently working with Israel to manufacture several types of weapons systems in India using Israeli technology. Through this joint manufacturing and production, Israel has improved and enhanced its global supply chain, and India has improved its weapons capabilities by producing advanced weapon systems.
Joint Military Production Between India and Israel
One of the key elements of India and Israel’s partnership is their ability to collaborate on producing new weapon systems together. Several different Israeli companies (i.e., Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Elbit Systems) have worked together with various Indian defense company partners through joint ventures in order to achieve the same purpose. Through these joint ventures, it was intended that both countries would be able to create advanced weapons systems domestically.
Reports from the defense industry have indicated that at least seven joint ventures have been created between Israeli firms and their Indian partners to accomplish the following:
- Missile system production
- Drone production
- Radar production
- Electronic warfare
Joint production creates many strategic advantages. It reduces the cost to Israel of producing new weapon systems through outsourcing production and allows Israel to increase its capacity to produce new weapon systems outside of its borders. Additionally, through this development process, India is establishing a self-sufficient, sustainable defense industry. Finally, this will provide both countries with improved long-term strategic alliances.
Drone Manufacturing and Unmanned Systems
Drone technology is a key area of cooperation between India and Israel. For example, the latest in modern drone warfare is Israeli drones that provide real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strikes via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Israel has partnered with Indian firms to create manufacturing facilities in India to increase their production capabilities for drones. One initiative is a joint manufacturing facility between Adani and Elbit, where they have begun producing Hermes 900 UAVs in Hyderabad, India. This would be the first time the Hermes 900 drone will be manufactured outside of Israel.
The Hermes can fly for a period of 36 hours and operate at an altitude above land for extended periods. Israeli drone technology is vital to Israel’s military capabilities and has been used in numerous military operations, including those conducted in Gaza. Estimates estimate that dozens of Hermes 900 UAVs will be produced and then shipped from the Indian manufacturing facility to Israel. The manufacturing facility produces both UAVs and counter-UAV systems to locate and destroy enemy UAVs. As modern warfare has evolved, counter-UAV systems have become an integral part of military operations.
Small Arms Production in India
India and Israel share collaborative efforts for small arms and infantry weapons manufacturing. For example, Adani Defence & Aerospace India partnered with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) to build a factory in Gwalior, India, to manufacture a variety of firearms and modern weapons systems. The factory manufactures assault rifles and carbines for use in close-range combat with advanced targeting systems and AI-based firing systems. The partnership is also working on separating out the AI-driven weapon systems via the design and manufacture of advanced firing technologies to ensure increased precision and efficiency on the battlefield. What these new production facilities prove is that India is becoming the manufacturing center of Israeli-designed weapons.
Missile and Air Defense Cooperation
The first two examples of air defense systems and missile defense systems clearly indicate the cooperative effort that is occurring between Israel and India, as well as a method of strengthening the military capabilities of both countries and thereby enhancing the overall relationship between both nations.
One of the successful examples of cooperative air defense developments is in the joint development of the Barak 8 surface-to-air missile defense system by IAI and India’s Ministry of Defense (MOD), through the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The Barak 8 missile defense system was created to protect against threatening airborne assets (e.g., aircraft, drones, and missiles) that would harm ground-based assets of both countries.
The success of this missile defense system could only be achieved through the close cooperation between Israel Aerospace Industries and DRDO. In addition to the missile defense systems under development, Israel and India have cooperatively developed the following Israel-based defense products:
- SPICE bombs
- Spike anti-tank guided missiles
- Derby air-to-air missiles, and
- Spike air defense systems
All of these products are manufactured today by some of the most advanced military industries located in Israel. Finally, in order to allow Israel and India to produce and supply their military assets, India will supply spare parts and support logistical requirements for both nations.
Ammunition and Explosives Exports
India has been associated with the supply of military ammunition and explosives in addition to its closer association with modern artillery systems. According to reports, Indian businesses have provided rockets and explosives, which the Israeli military could use as part of its wartime activities, through defense contracts and international arms transactions. These shipments have received worldwide press attention during times of extreme conflict in the Middle East, especially in relation to Israeli military action in Gaza.
Critics of military supplies during active conflict argue that they may indirectly facilitate military action. The governments of the countries involved in the transfer of ammunition have stated that they consider it to be compliant with existing obligations arising out of legally sanctioned defense trade agreements between sovereign states.
Strategic Motivations behind the Partnership
There are many strategic reasons for India and Israel’s partnership in defense manufacturing:
- Access to Advanced Technology: Israel boasts some of the highest levels of ammunition and technology for defense throughout the globe.
- Economic Potential: India’s defense manufacturing sector is developing at an incredible pace. Producing arms domestically creates jobs and improves the Indian industry. Continued manufacturing and selling arms provides ongoing opportunities for export revenue.
- Strategic Pact: Both nations have similar threat perceptions with respect to their respective security and anti-terrorism. This similarity creates the foundation for both countries to work together on defense matters to combat similar threats.
- Make in India Program: The government of India stresses building domestic defense equipment and weapons. By forming joint ventures with foreign defense enterprises (i.e., Israel) and transferring technological knowledge and developing manufacturing capacity in India, India meets its objectives.
Future of India-Israel Defense Cooperation & Conclusion
As India and Israel further develop their cooperation in weapons production and technology, there has been an increase in the advancement and use of advanced technology between the two nations, including advanced laser defense systems, artificial intelligence applications in the area of warfare, enhancement of cybersecurity, and advanced missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome system. The nature of their military cooperation has progressed from simply selling arms to one another to collaboratively developing arms together (i.e., developing weapons together) and sharing information on technology advancement.
Because of this collaboration, the relationships that each nation has established with one another yield both economic and strategic advantages, but also create ethical and political challenges regarding arms production for use in times of war. Thus, India’s and Israel’s defense relationship will continue to be important in the realm of global defense politics and remain a primary focus of defense cooperation between the two nations.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
Shanza Sajid is a final-semester student of international relations at Bahria University Islamabad with a strong passion for global politics and policy analysis.
