India-Israel Defence Relations and Strategic Cooperation
#GS-2 #Current Events #International #Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests #Rapid Fire CA #Quick Facts For Prelims
Why in News
- India and Israel held high-level defence talks during the visit of the Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defense to India on 24 Jun 2026.
- The meetings focused on expanding cooperation in defence manufacturing, advanced technologies, and strategic joint projects.
- Discussions took place under the overarching framework of the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership.
- Both nations emphasized enhancing collaboration in defence manufacturing, advanced military technology, and joint Research and Development (R&D) initiatives.
- This visit reflects Israel's broader geopolitical effort to widen its circle of strategic partnerships with an eastward focus.
- The strategy aims to boost defence exports, shape foreign policy, and strengthen the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) build-up.
India-Israel Defence Relations
- India and Israel share a strong defence partnership that has evolved from a simple buyer-seller relationship to collaboration in joint research, development, and defence manufacturing.
- Israel is among India's top defence suppliers, providing Heron and Searcher drones, Phalcon AWACS, SPYDER air defence systems, and advanced infantry weapons.
- Defence cooperation has expanded under Make in India through joint ventures for manufacturing military equipment, including drones.
- The flagship project is the Barak-8 (MRSAM) missile system, jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and deployed by all three Indian armed services.
- The Indian Air Force participates in Israel's multilateral Blue Flag exercises, and Indian Navy ships frequently make goodwill port calls to Haifa.
- Both countries regularly engage through the Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation, military exercises, and collaboration in border management and counter-terrorism technologies.