Prime Minister Modi concluded a two-day visit to Israel that started February 25, 2026, his second trip in eight years. He addressed the Knesset (parliament) amid an unprecedented deepening of ties despite attempts to isolate the Jewish state globally, especially by Europe, and growing tensions in its relations with China. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu first announced Modi’s visit while addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem a few days back. He lauded the “tremendous alliance between Israel and India,” adding, “We are going to discuss all sorts of cooperation. Now, you know, India is not a small country. It has 1.4 billion people. India is enormously powerful, enormously popular.”
Modi’s first visit in 2017 was also the first ever by an Indian premier to the Jewish state. He and Netanyahu famously walked barefoot together on a beach to inspect a desalination facility. Netanyahu reciprocated the following year with a six-day visit to India. In 2020, India abstained for the first time on a U.N. resolution condemning Israeli actions in Gaza. Indian officials now referred, more openly, to Hamas as a terrorist organization, a term they once avoided. According to an international surveys Israelis like Indians the most. There was a ground swell of pro-Israel opinion in India also as an all-weather friend.
India and Israel maintained a strong strategic partnership focused on defence, agriculture, and high-tech innovation, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $10 billion (excluding defence). India is one of the largest importers of Israeli military equipment, including radars, missiles, and UAVs, while collaborating on water technology and food security. PM Modi’s visit included discussions on joint development of anti-ballistic missile defence, laser weapons and long range stand-off missiles and drones.
Recent High Level Engagements
Israeli Minister of Tourism Haim Katz, Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Avi Dichter, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited India in 2025 as the two strategic partners built up momentum to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In November, India and Israel inked a landmark agreement to enhance defence, industrial, and technological cooperation, enabling the sharing of advanced technology to promote co-development and co-production.
The Joint Working Group (JWG) of Israel and India met in Tel Aviv in November for their annual meeting, led by the Israel Ministry of Defence Director General Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, and Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. “This strategic dialogue with India took place at a critical juncture for both countries. Our strategic partnership is based on deep mutual trust and shared security interests. We view India as a first-rate strategic partner and are determined to continue deepening cooperation in the fields of defence, technology, and industry,” Mr. Baram said after that meeting. Separately, a special panel was held with the CEOs of major defence industries, during which innovative and ground-breaking Israeli technologies were presented, along with ideas and projects aimed at deepening industrial-defence partnerships between Israel‘s defence industries and India. “A wide range of areas for cooperation have been identified in the agreement that will benefit both countries. Important areas include joint planning, training, defence industrial cooperation, and capabilities including Science & Technology, Research & Development, Technological Innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security cooperation,” reported PTI.
A Society for Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) delegation visited Israel from February 16–19, 2026, signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SIBAT (Israel‘s International Defence Cooperation Directorate) to bolster defence industrial cooperation.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Israel in December 2025. He met President Isaac Herzog, PM Netanyahu and held bilateral consultations with his counterpart Gideon Sa’ar. The discussions revolved around bilateral and regional issues to continue to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, prior to PM Modi’s visit.
Board of Peace
The Board of Peace (BoP) was an international organization with the stated purpose of promoting peacekeeping around the world. Established by U.S. President Donald Trump and led by the government of the United States, the board was named in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 as a body tasked with overseeing the processes of the Gaza peace plan. The BoP was proposed in September 2025 and formally established on the side-lines of the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) in January 2026. Donald Trump chaired the first BoP meeting on Gaza on February 19, 2026, at Washington DC. Officials from nearly 50 countries participated. Of these, 27 countries were part of the board while the rest, including India and the European Union, participated as observers. India was represented by its Charge d’Affaires at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, Namgya C Khampa. India made it clear that it was willing to engage with the Board even if it was not ready to be a full-fledged member yet.
The US pledged $10 billion for the BoP. Trump said nine other members had pledged a combined $7 billion towards a relief package for Gaza. Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania pledged to send troops to Gaza, while Egypt and Jordan said they would train personnel.
The BoP was partially good for Israel, as it would end the Gaza war, de-radicalise Hamas and demilitarize Gaza. However, the composition wasn’t, with countries such as Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan as members. In addition, there were other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom, which had also been hostile to Israel over the past couple of years. For India, it was wait and watch.
Recent DAC Clearance for Israeli Systems
Early 2026 India‘s Defence Acquisition Council approved an $8.7 billion procurement, including the SPICE-1000 precision-guided bombs (up to 100 km range, electro-optical guidance with 3m accuracy) from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Rampage air-to-surface missiles (150–250 km range, integrated on Su-30MKI and MiG-29) from Elbit Systems, Air-LORA air-launched ballistic missiles (400 km range, supersonic, fire-and-forget) from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Ice Breaker missiles (up to 300 km, AI-enhanced infrared guidance for land/sea targets) from Rafael.
India Israel Defence Relations
India’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 greatly helped Israel to emerge as a global defence exporter of significance. India established formal defence ties with Israel in 1996. Ever since, there was no looking back. Substantial action took place in the first NDA regime, and more recently the body language between Prime Ministers Modi and Netanyahu was extremely warm and with a desire to move forward. Israel and India were thus today poised to push further ahead.
India is Israel‘s biggest defence customer, accounting for 34 percent of all exports between 2020 and 2024. India–Israel aerospace relations are strong, and growing strategic partnership focused on co-development and co-production of advanced defence systems, particularly drones (UAVs), missile systems (like Barak-8 / MRSAM), and radars, aligning with India‘s “Make in India” or “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives, making Israel a top defence supplier and fostering indigenous Indian capabilities through significant technology transfers.
Among the key areas of collaboration are joint development of the Barak-8 MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile) for land and naval forces, which is a major success story. India uses Israeli drones (Heron, Searcher) and is upgrading them (Project Cheetah) with IAI, involving technology transfer for indigenous production. There is collaboration on sophisticated radars (Phalcon AWACS), EL/M-2052 AESA radar for LCA and some strategic electronics, including jammers.
IAI is partnering with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to convert civilian aircraft into mid-air refuelers (MMTT). IAI is a major partner, setting up an Indian subsidiary (ASI) and collaborating on many projects. Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) formed a JV with IAI for lifecycle support of MRSAM systems.
Israel‘s strong support during conflicts (e.g., Kargil War) solidified ties. A JWG oversee and guide deepening cooperation, aiming for a ten-year roadmap. The SPICE-1000 was the chosen weapon for the Balakot strikes. Israel is helping India strengthens India‘s defence capabilities against aerial threats. It has clearly positioned itself as trusted defence partner for India.
Israel is also conscious of India’s desire to become independent and push ‘Make in India’, and unlike USA and Russia who are sensitive to technology transfer, Israel is more willing to share top-end technologies.
Israel a Significant Aerospace Power
Continuous wars and heavy external threat forced Israel to have a big Military-Industrial Complex. A large number of companies in this otherwise small country that is the size of Haryana, and has a population (around 9.5-10 million) similar to Indian metropolitan Hyderabad, are into aerospace.
The Government controlled Israeli defence companies are IAI, and the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and private sector Elbit Systems and Taldrin Group, all producing a wide range of conventional arms and advanced defence electronics.
IAI produces aerial and astronautic systems for both military and civilian usage. It has 15,000 employees, achieved record sales of $6.1 billion in 2024, and is 31st among the world’s top 100 arms producers (HAL 44th). IAI designs, develops, produces and maintains civil aircraft, UAVs, fighter aircraft, missiles, avionics, and space-based systems. Their main products include missile defence systems (Arrow, Barak, Iron Dome), UAVs/drones (Heron family), radars and electronic systems, satellites & space technology, special mission aircraft, and commercial aircraft services (conversions, components for business jets like Gulfstream). Many of these products are centred on the core needs of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), but are also exported.
IAI UAVs that include the Heron, Panther, Bird Eye, Searcher, and Mosquito micro UAV among others were deployed in Afghanistan and also operated by India. Israel is also the only country in the world with a fully operational ground based Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence system that uses the American Arrow anti-missile system. Israeli company Elta, a subsidiary of IAI, provides the Green Pine early-warning radar for the system. Elta also makes radars and airborne jammers for Indian aircraft. Tadiran (Elbit division) makes the Communication, Control, and Command centre.
Rafael and IAI work closely on many systems. Rafael develops and produces advanced solutions for air, land, sea, space, and cyber defence, including famous systems like air defence (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Iron Beam Laser), active protection (Trophy), precision weapons (Spike family), and integrated command systems. Its systems are used by numerous militaries, including NATO members, and it operates through subsidiaries and global cooperation.
Iron Dome is an all-weather mobile air defence system with a range of 70 kilometres, and played a great role in the Israel–Gaza conflict ‘Operation Protective Edge’ of July 2014 and more recent “Operation Swords of Iron”. The system consists of Elta radar and Rafael’s interceptor missile, had a success rate of 90 percent against the Hamas fired rockets.
Rafael’s missiles include the Python and Derby air-to-air missiles; surface to air systems including the Spyder and the Barak anti-missile naval air defence system developed jointly with IAI. Rafael also manufactures the Litening and TopLite navigation and targeting pods, and the RecceLite real-time reconnaissance pod. Under a 2008 agreement, Rafael was awarded a contract to supply the IAF with Spyder Low-Level Quick Reaction Missile systems (LLQRM) armed with Python and Derby missiles. In March 2010, the two countries signed a huge $1.4 billion contract for the development and procurement of Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles. Rafael today partners extensively with Indian firms like Kalyani (KRAS), Astra Microwave (ARC), and L&T to localize production of high-tech defence systems, including Spike missiles, SDRs, and the Trophy APS.
Elbit Systems Ltd is the primary provider of the Israeli military’s land-based equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles with subsidiary factories around the world, and sells its products to various countries. It creates various technologies for military command, control, communications, intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes. The company produces unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), electro-optics hardware, electronic warfare, signal intelligence (SIGINT) systems, and radio and communications products. Hermes 450/Hermes 900 are made in India through a joint-venture with Adani Group. Elbit Systems had 20,000 employees, with 3,200 of them based in the United States. Elbit Systems reported $6.8 billion in revenue for the full year 2024 (HAL $4 billion).
India’s Israel Air & Space Connect
Indian Air Force (IAF) was the first to invest in the Israeli Air Combat Instrumentation in 1996. This was followed by Dvora patrol boats for Indian Navy. The BJP-led NDA government in 1998 at took the relationship to a new level. Ever since, India has purchased the Barak Naval anti-missile defence system, Phalcon AWACS advanced airborne early warning radars for India’s IL-76 based AWACs, Heron and Searcher Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Night Vision Goggles, Spyder quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles, smart munitions, SPICE and Crystal Maze missiles, Green Pine early-warning and fire-control radars, and many other items like Laser guidance kits, Head-Up-Displays, targeting pods, PGM laser guidance kits, FLIR equipment, integrated helmets, among others. IAF also acquired the Israeli Harpy and loitering Harop killer Loitering Munitions. Israel supports India’s indigenous AD systems development including the Anti-Ballistic Missile system. Israel also supported India in space based sensors (RISAT), and intelligence.
Israeli Arms Sales
Israel is a major global arms exporter, ranking as the world’s eighth largest during the period of 2020–2024. In the period 2020–2024, states in Asia and Oceania accounted for 33% of all arms imports globally. India was the second largest importer in this period after Ukraine. Over the last decade (2014-2024), India significantly shifted its sourcing, reducing reliance on Russia (from 72% to 36%) towards Western suppliers like France, the US, and Israel. In the period 2020–2024 Israel contributed to nearly 15 percent of Indian defence imports. Israel has long been a global leader, often the top exporter, in military UAVs/drones due to early adoption, innovation, and necessity as a small nation with defence challenges, with major players like IAI and Elbit Systems dominating the market, though now facing rising competition from countries like Turkey.
I2U2
I2U2 is a strategic economic partnership between India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States, once called the “New Quad” or “Middle East Quad”. Established in 2022, it focuses on joint investments in areas like water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security, leveraging the members’ technological strengths (Israel/US tech, India‘s IT/human capital, UAE‘s investment) to promote economic development, innovation, and regional stability. During “Trump-2” Administration, I2U2 has slowed down a little as America is trying to revive its economy through balancing its trade using heavy tariffs.
To Summarise
India and Israel have congruence on many geo-political issues. While Israel is very close to USA, it is conscious of the pro-Palestinian positions and opposition to Israel of many European countries. Israel maintains “practical” and balanced relations with both Russia and China. India hopes that the Israel–Gaza and other conflicts in the region do not continue for long. This is important for India’s uninterrupted defence supplies and defence partnership.
Israel has had a threat to its existence from the Arab nations surrounding it who support the Palestinian cause. India now has three front threat from China, Pakistan (Islamic bomb), and now less-friendly Bangladesh.
Multiple sources, including former CIA officers and declassified intelligence reports, detail alleged plan in the 1980s Israel offered to help India destroy Pakistan‘s uranium enrichment facility at Kahuta. Israel feared the development of an “Islamic bomb” and the potential proliferation of nuclear technology to hostile Middle Eastern countries like Libya.
More recently, Israel, Cyprus, and Greece have a strong, deepening trilateral strategic partnership focused on security, defence, energy (gas, electricity grid), and technology, often seen as a counterbalance to regional instability and Turkish assertiveness in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey and Pakistan have been working very closely. India too is concerned about this nexus. India has also been working more closely with Greece and Cyprus. India and Israel could coordinate more closely in the Mediterranean.
The success of any military operation is heavily dependent on accurate intelligence. Israeli Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, popularly known as Mossad, is a world acclaimed intelligence agency. It has contributed significantly to the success of all Israeli military operations. India needs to have a near equivalent but more robust set up. The continuous Israeli military training follows the dictum “more you sweat in peace, less you bleed in war.” Expecting war at short notice, Israel keeps high weapon stocking, and has secured supply chains. India has begun doing the same.
The world has lot to learn from Israel on close combat in an urban environment, as has been especially in Gaza and South Lebanon. Israel has been practicing criticality of organic lethality and rapid engagements. The ability to responsively employ precision fires in close proximity to friendly forces, and giving higher priority to air delivered fires.
Israel has had both intelligence and military failures and has constantly tried to learn from it and made amends. Israel has no illusions about a permanent resolution to the conflict. As has often been observed, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Israel believes in “Do plan for the day after”.
“Iron Beam” is a 100kW class High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) that is expected to become the first operational system in its class. It quickly and effectively engages and neutralizes a wide array of threats from a range of hundreds of meters to several kilometres. Engaging at the speed of light, Iron Beam has an unlimited magazine, with almost zero cost per interception, and causes minimal collateral damage. Iron Beam can be integrated with a range of platforms and can become part of any multilayer defence system. India should work with Israel on this.
Israeli SPICE glide vehicles were used for the Balakot strikes. Harop LMs were extensively used in “Op Sindoor.” The Special Forces of the two countries work together and also use some similar equipment. The two work closely on cyber warfare equipment and software tools. For India, Israel remains a very reliable, ‘no-questions-asked’ defence systems supplier. Joint Ventures are today the preferred route. India is a significant market. Make in India is cheaper and also fits into India’s “Atmanirbharta” thrust.
Future India–Israel defence cooperation will focus heavily on joint development, co-production, and technology transfer in cutting-edge areas like AI, cyber, and drones, shifting from buyer-seller to strategic partnership, solidified by recent MOUs for advanced systems like hypersonic defence, enhanced UAVs (Heron upgrades), and integrated defence ecosystems, aiming for self-reliance and enhanced operational capabilities against terrorism.
Note: The article was originally written by the Author for The First Post 26th February 2026; it has since been updated.
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