India and Israel have signed a historic defence cooperation agreement, which will lead to a deepening of their partnership through collaboration in the development of advanced military equipment. The MoU was signed during the 17th meeting of the India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation in Tel Aviv, which was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Major General Amir Baram, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defence.
The agreement establishes a shared vision and policy framework further to enhance armed forces cooperation between the two countries. It covers various areas of cooperation, such as strategic dialogues, military exercises, defence industrial cooperation, science & technology, R&D, and a focus on innovation (including AI), as well as cybersecurity. The enhanced engagement aims to facilitate the exchange of growing strategic capabilities and to allow for the co-development & co-production of state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment, including the transfer of know-how & technology.
India is one of the world’s top arms buyers, and this deal extends beyond buying and selling to include collaborative technology innovation and joint production under India’s “Make in India” campaign. Previous joint projects have included UAVs, missiles, guided munitions, and sophisticated surveillance systems. The pact reflects a strong mutual trust and common security interests that have characterized India’s defence relationship with Israel over several decades.
The MoU also covers cooperation in combating terrorism and other common security threats, expressing their shared commitment to reinforcing both regional and global security. The agreement was reached during a three-day visit to India by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and reflects the two countries’ increased relations in defence, trade, technology, and strategic cooperation.
This agreement starts a new chapter in the defence relationship between India and Israel. It enables both countries to utilize technological innovation and co-development to address future security threats and maintain regional stability through robust military cooperation.