As several European countries are canceling defense deals with Israel and boycotting Israeli defense firms from international defense and aerospace exhibitions, New Delhi and Tel Aviv are quietly boosting their defense partnership and jointly developing a host of weapons systems.
According to the global arms transfer database compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Israel was already the world’s eighth-largest arms exporter during 2020–2024, accounting for 3.1% of global major arms exports.
Furthermore, despite calls to boycott Israel and Israeli defense firms, Tel Aviv sold more arms in 2024 than in any other year. In 2024, Israel’s defense exports reached a record US$14.8 billion, breaking the previous high of US$13 billion in 2023, according to data from Israel’s Defense Ministry.
In 2024, Europe was the biggest geographical market for Israeli arms, accounting for as much as 54% of Israel’s defense exports.
However, at the same time, the European market for Israeli weapons is increasingly vulnerable, due to the rising criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza, which is set to complete two years in October.
In June, Spain canceled a US$325 million deal for anti-tank missiles built by a subsidiary of Israel’s government-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as part of a “gradual disconnection of Israeli technology.”
Previously, Spain had also canceled a US$6.6 million ammunition deal with Elbit Systems.
Similarly, in August, Slovenia banned all arms trade with Israel, including transit, imports, and exports, becoming the first EU country to impose a full embargo.
This was followed by Germany halting exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza operations.
Similarly, in 2025, Israeli defense firms have been repeatedly banned from defense and aerospace exhibitions in Europe, effectively stopping Israeli defense firms from showcasing their products and thus affecting their ability to strike new deals.
This year, Israeli defense firms were prohibited from the Paris Air Show and NEDS (Netherlands Defence Exposition and Symposium) in Europe. Similarly, the UAE banned Israeli defense firms from IDEX (International Defence Exhibition) 2025.
However, amid these rising calls to boycott Israel, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, New Delhi and Tel Aviv are quietly strengthening their defense partnership.
Meanwhile, India will buy more Israeli Heron drones after their successful use in Operation Sindoor and will be armed with air-launched Spike anti-tank guided missiles, ANI reported. The Indian armed forces already operate a large fleet of Heron drones across all three services.
India-Israel Defense Partnership
India and Israel already share a robust defense relationship.
According to SIPRI, between 2020 and 2024, India was the largest destination for Israeli arms, accounting for as much as 34 %, or nearly one-third, of all Israeli arms exports. The US was a distant second, absorbing 13 % of Israeli arms exports.
During the same period, Israel was the fourth largest arms exporter to India, behind Russia, France, and the US. Israel accounted for 9.6% of India’s arms imports.
However, Israel is not only exporting weapons systems to India, but the two countries are also working together and jointly developing several critical weapons systems, which will be key to India’s military arsenal in the coming years.
Furthermore, Israel is also supporting India’s critical indigenous defense platforms, such as Tejas LCA fighter jets and India’s home-grown, multi-layered air defense system.
Tejas To Sudarshan Chakra, Drones To Missiles, Israel Is Key To India’s Military Arsenal
Israel is supplying many critical parts for the Tejas LCA, India’s indigenously designed and developed fighter jet.
For the Tejas Mk1 variant, Israeli companies have supplied – EL/M-2032 Multi-Mode Radar (Elta Systems), Litening Targeting Pod (Rafael) for high-resolution electro-optical imagery and precision targeting, Derby BVR Missile, and Python-5 AAM (Rafael).
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Tejas fighter jet is also equipped with Israeli Elbit Systems’ DASH-IV Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS). These Israeli systems have been integrated into the 40 Tejas Mk1 fighter jets delivered to the IAF.
Similarly, the Mk1A variant, 180 ordered by India, will also feature critical Israeli systems.
The Mk1A variant will feature the advanced EL/M-2052 AESA Radar (Elta Systems); however, it will only be a stopgap solution till India’s home-grown Uttam AESA radar is ready for integration, Litening Targeting Pod, Derby and Python missiles, SPICE Guidance Kits (Rafael), and advanced Elbit DASH-V Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS).
Some of these systems could also feature in the planned Tejas Mk2 variant.
Similarly, key Israeli systems will be part of India’s planned Sudarshan Chakra, a home-grown, multi-layered air defense system, targeted to be operationalized by 2035.
The system will integrate Barak-8 MR-SAM/LR-SAM. The SAM has been jointly developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), India’s DRDO, and Bharat Electronics (BEL). The SAM is already operational on Indian Navy warships and with Indian Army units.
Barak-8 is designed to defend against any type of airborne threat, including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs, as well as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and combat jets.
The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) secured a US$777 million contract in 2018 with India’s BEL to supply the marine variant of the Barak-8 for seven warships. This followed an earlier US$630 million order for the same system.
Barak-8 provides 360-degree coverage and all-weather capability. Its range is 100 km, though Barak-ER has a range of 150 km, providing India a second layer of medium-range air defense capability after the S-400.
Together with S-400, Akash SAM, and VSHORADS (Very Short-Range Air Defense System) – a man-portable missile system designed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) – the Barak-8 SAM will play a critical role in India’s integrated, multi-layered air defense network.
Furthermore, a Joint Venture between India’s Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL), the defense subsidiary of Bharat Forge Ltd, and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd (Rafael) is manufacturing the Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) in India.
The JV, Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems Pvt Ltd (KRAS), won an order of Rs 287 crore in 2023 to supply the Indian Army with Spike ATGMs. The fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles have an effective range of 2.5 km against armored vehicles.
Similarly, Israel’s Rafael and India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T) signed an agreement in February 2025 to offer the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) for Indian platforms. The Trophy APS detects and intercepts incoming anti-tank threats, such as RPGs and ATGMs, using radar and explosive countermeasures.
The Trophy APS could be mounted on India’s indigenous tanks, such as Arjun Mk1A and Zorawar light tanks, as well as Indo-Russian T-90S/SK Bhishma main battle tanks.
A JV between India’s Adani Defence and Aerospace and Israel’s Elbit Systems is manufacturing the Hermes 900 medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAVs in Hyderabad.
The UAV supports surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes with a 36-hour endurance and 1,000 km range.
Furthermore, India’s BEL is producing Crystal Maze 2, also referred to as ROCKS, an air-launched medium-range Israeli ballistic missile with a strike range exceeding 250 km. The air-to-surface missile can also work in GPS-denied atmosphere, a crucial feature in today’s warfare, and has already been integrated with Su-30 MKI, MiG-29UPG, and Jaguar fighter jets.
The SkyStriker loitering munitions, an Israeli design by Elbit Systems, is also manufactured locally in India by Adani Group.
India also used the SkyStriker Kamikaze drones during Operation Sindoor.
These weapons systems will be a crucial part of India’s military arsenal and strategic deterrence capabilities. The critical role of Israeli defense firms in producing weapons systems for India would mean that, going forward, the Israeli-India defense partnership is set to reach new heights.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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