_New Delhi/ Dec 10 2025_ — India and Israel have deepened their strategic partnership, moving beyond a buyer‑seller model to joint manufacturing of advanced weapons systems. The shift comes amid growing concerns over Pakistan’s military ties with Turkey, which has supplied drones and voiced support for Islamabad on Kashmir. To counter this emerging axis, both governments are aligning defence production under India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.What the deal entails- Co‑production of missiles & drones: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) are setting up facilities in India to manufacture Barak‑8 air‑defence missiles, Heron Mk‑II and Hermes 900 UAVs, and loitering munitions like SkyStriker.- Technology transfer & joint R&D: A new MoU signed during Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s November visit to Tel Aviv covers AI, cyber, and radar systems, with Indian firms holding majority stakes in joint ventures.- Key players: Elbit Systems with Adani Defence (Hermes 900 plant in Hyderabad), IAI partnering HAL for Heron drones, and IWI’s venture with PLR Systems for Negev LMGs.Why now?Turkey’s recent shipment of Songar swarm drones to Pakistan and Ankara’s vocal stance on Kashmir have prompted New Delhi to diversify its security partnerships. Israeli defence firms, facing export constraints and domestic pressure, see India as a stable hub for manufacturing and export.Impact on Pakistan‑Turkey nexus- Deterrence boost: Local production of Barak‑8 and advanced UAVs strengthens India’s air‑defence and surveillance capabilities, offsetting Turkish‑Pakistani drone deployments.- Supply chain shift: Israeli MSMEs and start‑ups are being encouraged to set up Indian vendor networks, reducing dependency on Western export controls.Challenges ahead- US export regulations: Israeli firms must navigate US licensing for technology transfer.- Sanctions risk: Parallel talks with Russia for joint ventures raise concerns over secondary sanctions, which Indian firms are wary of.OutlookBoth nations expect visible outcomes within the next 6‑12 months, with the first batch of Negev LMGs slated for delivery early next year and expanded UAV production ramping up. The partnership signals a strategic realignment where India leverages Israeli innovation to build a self‑reliant defence industrial base while signalling to Pakistan and Turkey that aggressive posturing will meet stronger counter‑measures.
