India-Israel Deepen Strategic Defence Ties with Focus on Missile Defence

India is poised to significantly strengthen its strategic and defence partnership with Israel, with discussions around joint development of advanced anti-ballistic missile defence systems taking centre stage during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Israel. The visit, scheduled for February 25-26, 2026, marks PM Modi's second trip to Israel since his historic visit in 2017, which elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. This high-level engagement underscores a mutual commitment to deepen cooperation across various sectors, particularly in defence technology. The Hindustan Times article accurately highlights India's intent to explore comprehensive anti-ballistic missile defence solutions with Israel. This initiative is crucial for India's 'Mission Sudershan,' an ambitious plan aimed at safeguarding the Indian hinterland from long-range enemy missiles. Israel, renowned for its sophisticated multi-layered missile defence systems such as the long-range Arrow, medium-range David's Sling, and the short-range Iron Dome, is a natural and experienced partner for India in this critical domain. The proven effectiveness of Israeli systems, demonstrated recently by intercepting 98 percent of ballistic missiles fired by Iran, further underscores the value of this collaboration. Beyond anti-ballistic missile defence, the agenda for deepening defence ties includes joint development of laser weapons, long-range stand-off missiles, and drones. This expanded scope of cooperation reflects a shift from a traditional buyer-seller relationship to one focused on co-development and technology transfer. Sources indicate that Israel has agreed to share its latest defence technologies with India, including hi-tech laser defence and other stand-off systems, a notable departure from previous years where such extensive technology sharing was not common. This move is seen as foundational for India to enhance its indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities under the 'Make in India' initiative. The groundwork for this intensified cooperation was laid during Defence Secretary R.K. Singh's visit to Israel in November last year, which culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on expanded defence cooperation. More recently, ahead of PM Modi's visit, another MoU was signed between the International Defence Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) under Israel's Ministry of Defence and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), in partnership with the Indian Defence Ministry. This institutionalises deeper collaboration between the defence industries of both nations, fostering engagement between Israeli and Indian defence companies to promote co-development and co-production. The defence partnership between India and Israel has a rich history, evolving significantly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. A prime example of successful joint development is the Barak-8 surface-to-air missile system, co-developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Barak-8, capable of defending against various airborne threats including ballistic missiles, is now widely deployed across the Indian Navy, Air Force, and Army, showcasing the efficacy of their joint ventures. The Barak-MX, an advanced variant designed entirely by IAI, further aligns with India's requirements for a comprehensive, multi-layered defence system to counter threats from nations like China and Pakistan. While no major defence deals are expected to be signed during PM Modi's immediate visit, the bilateral defence cooperation is an ongoing process valued at approximately USD 10 billion over the coming years. This continuous engagement through high-level exchanges and agreements reinforces the strategic nature of their alliance. Both nations share concerns over terrorism and regional stability, which serves as a strong impetus for their robust defence and security collaboration. The partnership extends beyond defence to encompass trade, technology, innovation, and counter-terrorism, reflecting a comprehensive and multifaceted alliance. In essence, the news from Hindustan Times is accurate and well-corroborated by various credible sources, indicating a significant and ongoing effort by India and Israel to enhance their defence capabilities through deeper strategic cooperation, particularly in the crucial area of anti-ballistic missile defence and advanced technology sharing.

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