India-Israel Defence Ties: Are They Ready for the Next Threat?
India and Israel’s defence relationship has undergone a quiet but decisive transformation. What began decades ago as a discreet, largely transactional arrangement has evolved into a Special Strategic Partnership built on trust, combat-proven technology, and a growing industrial base. The critical question today is whether this partnership is structured and resilient enough to handle the threats that are already taking shape — massed drones, precision missiles, hybrid terrorism, and the possibility of simultaneous pressure on multiple fronts.
For much of the post-Cold War period, India was primarily a major customer of Israeli defence systems. Israeli drones, including the Heron and Searcher series, became workhorses for surveillance along both the Pakistan and China borders. The jointly developed Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missile entered service with the Navy, Army and Air Force, forming an important layer of India’s air defence architecture. SPYDER quick-reaction systems, SPICE precision-guidance kits that convert conventional bombs into stand-off weapons, and a range of loitering munitions further expanded India’s options. Israel consistently ranked among India’s top suppliers of advanced military technology, often filling capability gaps that other partners were slower or unwilling to address.
That buyer-seller model is now changing. In November 2025, India and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation during the annual Joint Working Group meeting in Tel Aviv. The agreement went beyond procurement to cover strategic dialogue, training, industrial collaboration, research and development, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The real elevation came in February 2026, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel. The two sides formally upgraded their relationship to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity.” Discussions covered major acquisitions and technology cooperation, including SPICE-1000 guidance kits, Elbit’s Rampage air-to-surface missiles, Israel Aerospace Industries’ Air LORA air-launched ballistic missiles, and Rafael’s Ice Breaker system. Reports at the time pointed to packages valued at roughly $8–8.6 billion. There was also clear interest in elements of Israel’s multi-layered air and missile defence architecture, including Iron Dome and the laser-based Iron Beam, as India accelerates its own Mission Sudarshan Chakra programme.
Mission Sudarshan Chakra, announced by the Prime Minister on Independence Day 2025, aims to create an integrated, multi-layered national air and missile defence shield by 2035. It is designed to protect both military and civilian infrastructure against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, drones and swarm attacks. Israeli systems and expertise are a natural fit for several layers of that architecture, particularly in short- and medium-range interception and directed-energy applications.
The partnership’s operational value was tested in May 2025. Following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India launched Operation Sindoor, carrying out precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Israeli-origin precision munitions and loitering systems were employed effectively. Israel publicly supported India’s right to self-defence. The brief but intense exchange that followed, involving drones, missiles and artillery, underscored the relevance of accurate stand-off strike capability and layered air defence — domains in which Israeli industry has extensive combat experience.
The relationship is also becoming two-way. Indian private companies, joint ventures and state-owned enterprises have begun supplying components, including munitions parts and drone-related items, into Israeli defence supply chains. This industrial integration reduces single-point dependencies for both sides and aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat goals. High-level engagement continues. In June 2026, Israeli Ministry of Defence Director General Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram led a delegation to New Delhi for talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior officials. Discussions focused on co-production, joint development of next-generation systems, and the creation of emergency procurement mechanisms that could be activated under acute threat or conflict.
The “next threat” is already visible. For India it includes the persistent combination of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and the risk of rapid conventional escalation, as seen in 2025. It also includes Chinese pressure along the northern borders and the growing possibility of simultaneous challenges. Newer operational problems — large-scale drone and loitering munition attacks, hypersonic weapons, electronic warfare, and cyber operations against critical infrastructure — demand sensors, interceptors and command systems that can function at high speed and across domains. Israel faces a different but overlapping set of challenges: sustained pressure from Iran and its proxies, ballistic and cruise missile threats, and the need to maintain qualitative superiority while managing high-intensity conflict. Both countries also share concerns about regional volatility in the Middle East that could affect energy security and sea lanes.
Against this backdrop, the India-Israel partnership shows clear strengths. Mutual trust is high and now institutionalised. Systems have been combat-validated. Industrial collaboration is moving from licensed assembly toward genuine co-development and shared supply chains. The framework explicitly contemplates emergency mechanisms and joint resilience. For India, access to mature Israeli technology accelerates capability while supporting domestic manufacturing. For Israel, a large partner with growing industrial capacity and geopolitical weight provides scale and strategic depth.
Gaps remain. Full operationalisation of Mission Sudarshan Chakra will take years. Technology transfer has practical limits, and India must continue balancing foreign systems with indigenous programmes such as Project Kusha and other DRDO efforts. Diplomatic costs exist. Closer industrial ties with Israel have attracted scrutiny, particularly over supply chains linked to the conflict in Gaza. India must still manage its broader relationships with Gulf states, Iran and the Global South. Differences in geography and force size also mean that systems optimised for one theatre require careful adaptation for the other.
Are India and Israel ready for the next threat? They are better prepared than at any previous stage of their relationship. The partnership has shifted from simple procurement to joint problem-solving and industrial resilience. Layered air defence, precision strike and unmanned systems capabilities have been tested and are being expanded. Institutional mechanisms now aim explicitly at co-production and rapid response under pressure. Complete readiness for every high-intensity, multi-domain scenario is not yet in place. No bilateral partnership delivers that overnight. But the direction is deliberate and the foundation is stronger. In an era defined by drones, missiles and hybrid pressure, India and Israel are investing in the tools and the trust required to meet those challenges together. The next test will show how effectively the new architecture performs when it is needed most.
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