India and Israel are set to deepen their defense relationship, moving beyond a simple buyer-seller dynamic. Israel is reportedly exploring the relocation of significant portions of its defense manufacturing to India. This strategic shift aims to produce advanced weaponry, including high-tech drones and sophisticated weapon platforms, within India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, potentially co-developing these systems with Indian partners.
This burgeoning collaboration gained significant traction following a recent visit by India’s Defence Secretary to Israel. During this trip, officials convened the India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG), culminating in the signing of a new memorandum. This agreement outlines joint development of advanced weapon systems, co-production of defense platforms, and the sharing of critical technologies in areas like artificial intelligence, cyber systems, research and development, and military training.
Senior Indian diplomats anticipate visible impacts of this enhanced cooperation within six months to a year. Israel’s decision to partner with India for manufacturing stems from its own strategic considerations as a small nation with limited depth, making its defense facilities potential targets. India offers the scale and stability that Israeli defense companies require. Concurrently, India is actively seeking technology transfers and local manufacturing capabilities, shifting away from merely purchasing finished defense products. This new era of cooperation is expected to bolster India’s defense industry, enabling it to eventually develop and export its own advanced systems.