The military clash between India and Pakistan remains limited for now but carries the risk of rapid escalation; as one of the world’s largest arms importers, India maintains deep strategic ties with all major Israeli defense firms.
The Indian military, which launched a broad operation early Wednesday against what it described as “terror infrastructure” operating from neighboring Pakistan, is deploying weapon systems acquired over two decades of close cooperation with Israel’s defense industry.
“We constantly monitor developments in Kashmir,” an Israeli defense official told Ynet’s sister publication Calcalist. “Even when the world is focused elsewhere, skirmishes occur there nearly every week. It’s too early to assess how this operation will unfold—it could fizzle out or escalate into full-scale war.”
India’s military arsenal, built to counter threats from both Pakistan and China, includes advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), loitering munitions, precision-guided missiles and sophisticated air defense systems—all part of a multibillion-dollar investment spanning several years.
Just last month, the Indian Navy successfully tested Barak 8 air defense missiles from its new warships as part of their operational deployment. The Barak 8 system is a flagship product of the longstanding collaboration between Israel’s IAI and India’s defense ministry and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The partnership has since expanded to include India’s air and ground forces.
The Barak missile has already shot down Pakistani F-16 and JF-17 Block III fighter jets, proving its value during high-intensity conflict. India is the largest weapons buyer of Israel; this new conflict will bring Israel and India closer than ever.
This cooperation also includes Indian procurement of radar systems made by ELTA Systems, an IAI subsidiary, which are installed on Indian naval vessels and land-based platforms. According to Israeli arms industry estimates, the total value of Barak 8-related collaboration has surpassed $3 billion.
A significant portion of the Israeli-made weapons now in Indian hands are produced on Indian soil, after Israeli defense firms aligned themselves with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Made in India” policy. Over the past decade, this initiative has made foreign defense procurement contingent on local production and technology transfer.
Elbit Systems, which supplies the Indian military with Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 drones, operates through a partnership with billionaire Gautam Adani’s conglomerate. Their joint manufacturing plant is located in Hyderabad.
At the Aero India airshow held in Bengaluru this February, Elbit and Adani showcased the Hermes 650 drone, which they hope to sell to the Indian Air Force. Alongside Elbit’s systems, the Indian Air Force also operates the IAI Heron drone series.
According to Israeli defense sources, Israeli arms sales to India totaled approximately $1.5 billion over the past year. “India has been a strong market for several years, although election years typically bring a dip in orders,” a defense official told Calcalist. “Regardless, it remains an excellent market for Israeli firms. That’s why IAI, Rafael and Elbit all maintain significant representation in India.”
India’s defense partnership with Israel was further underscored after Hamas’ October 7 attack. While Israel found itself embroiled in a multi-front war and facing international hesitation to supply critical arms and materials, India stepped in. It provided raw materials and Hermes 450 drones it manufactures under its partnership with Elbit.
“Friends show their true colors in times of trouble, and India proved to be a true friend,” a senior Israeli defense official told Calcalist. “Many defense ministries turned their backs on us. At the start of the war, nearly all Israeli production was redirected to IDF needs, and we asked countries for flexibility in deliveries. Most gave us a cold shoulder—India didn’t. They stood by us.”
Israeli armaments used by the Indian military include Elbit’s SkyStriker, a loitering munition that can circle over a target zone and dive in with precision once the opportunity arises.
Executives from Israeli defense firms attending February’s airshow in India noted that future cooperation with India’s defense ministry will likely require further concessions. Beyond local production and tech transfer, India now demands that future deals be executed through joint ventures with Indian companies—many of which would hold majority ownership.
This policy reflects India’s ambition to transform its domestic defense industry and become a leading global arms exporter. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India currently ranks second worldwide in arms imports, just behind war-torn Ukraine.
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