India and Israel have elevated their long-standing strategic partnership to a new level with the signing of a comprehensive Defence Technology Collaboration Agreement on June 20, 2025. The agreement was announced after a high-level virtual meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The pact focuses on joint development and co-production of advanced defense systems including next-generation missile platforms,
drone swarm technologies, cyber warfare defenses, and AI-driven battlefield surveillance systems. This is the first time India and Israel have formalized a long-term, multi-tier collaboration in defense R&D and manufacturing. During the announcement, PM Modi stated, “India is committed to enhancing its national defense capabilities through innovation, and Israel has been a reliable partner in this vision. This agreement symbolizes the strength of India-Israel friendship and our shared goal of a secure and self-reliant future.” Netanyahu echoed the sentiment and called India “one of Israel’s closest global partners,” especially in the context of technology and intelligence sharing. The agreement will also allow private Indian firms to partner with Israeli defense companies under the Make in India framework. What’s in the Deal? - Missile Systems: India will jointly work with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to develop medium- and long-range precision-guided missile platforms. - Drones and Counter-UAV Tech: DRDO (India) and IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) will collaborate on smart drones and counter-drone systems. - Cyber Defense: New protocols will be created to share cyber intelligence and simulate digital war games. - AI & Surveillance: Both nations will set up an AI innovation center to build autonomous battlefield support systems and real-time surveillance tech. Why This Matters? This defense pact comes at a time when regional security in Asia and the Middle East is under stress. With rising instability in the Indo-Pacific and growing threats from cross-border terrorism, both nations see each other as strong allies against shared threats. For India, this move aligns with its goal of becoming self-reliant in defense manufacturing and reducing dependency on traditional suppliers. For Israel, it opens up a massive market and a trustworthy democratic partner in Asia. The two countries have already had success in past collaborations like the Barak-8 missile system and Heron drones, both widely deployed by Indian forces. Strategic Implications: - Signals India's intent to diversify defense partnerships beyond Russia and the US. - Enhances deterrence capability along sensitive borders, especially in the western and northern sectors. - Boosts domestic defense startups with Israeli mentorship and joint funding. Global Reaction: While the deal is being celebrated in Indian and Israeli media, some international observers — especially from neighboring countries like Pakistan and China — have criticized the growing India-Israel defense ties, calling it a shift in regional power balance. However, both governments have assured that this collaboration is for defensive and peacekeeping purposes only. In the coming months, joint military exercises are also expected to take place to test new drone and cyber protocols developed under this pact.