India-Israel Defense and Security Cooperation 

The Diplomat author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners, and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into U.S. Asia policy. This conversation with Dr. Sujata Ashwarya – a professor at the Centre for West Asian (Middle Eastern) Studies in Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India and contributing author to “Israel-Asia Relations in the Twenty-First Century: The Search for Partners in a Changing World” (2024) – is the 441st in “The Trans-Pacific View Insight Series.” 

Explain the shared strategic interests between India and Israel in strengthening defense and security cooperation.

India and Israel’s partnership in defense and security is rooted in shared interests but remains complex and nuanced. Both countries face unique security challenges from terrorism – India in Kashmir and Israel in its region. This shared threat has encouraged cooperation, especially in bolstering internal security and countering insurgency. However, their specific focuses differ: India’s efforts primarily target groups linked to neighboring Pakistan, while Israel contends with a broader range of threats in the Middle East, involving both state and non-state actors.

Although both countries resonate on the issue of civilian-targeted terror attacks by groups and semi-state actors, they diverge in their approach to certain organizations. For example, Israel’s push for India to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization has not succeeded. India’s criteria for such designations typically require that a group has directly attacked India or poses an imminent threat to its sovereignty and people, which shapes its distinct understanding of terrorism.

Israeli drones, including the Heron UAV, specially adapted for surveillance in mountainous regions, are deployed by Indian forces in Kashmir for intelligence and reconnaissance. Indian forces have also used Israeli Tavor rifles since 2008 and employed Spice-2000 guidance technology in airstrikes inside Pakistan following the 2019 Pulwama attack, a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. However, reports of Israeli intelligence operatives allegedly participating in interrogations of detainees in the Kashmir Valley have sparked controversy, raising questions about the extent of Israeli involvement not only in supplying defense technology but also in operational tactics and interrogation practices. 

Israel’s expertise in defense technology makes it a valuable partner as India undertakes an extensive military modernization effort. As the world’s largest weapons importer by value, India accounted for 10 percent of global arms imports from 2008 to 2023 and is projected to spend at least $200 billion over the next decade to update its armed forces. Over the past ten years, India has imported $2.9 billion worth of military hardware from Israel, including radars, surveillance and combat drones, and missiles.

Israel’s advanced innovations in missile defense, drones, and cyber technology have been especially beneficial for India, enabling technology transfers and joint projects. A prime example is the Barak missile system, with India now inducting the next-generation Barak-8 surface-to-air missile systems under three joint projects between India’s DRDO [Defense Research and Development Organization] and Israel Aerospace Industries. This collaboration strengthens India’s air defense capabilities and reflects the strategic depth of India-Israel defense ties.

At the same time, India’s drive for self-reliance in defense – through the “Make in India” initiative – reflects its desire for greater indigenization and diversification of suppliers. India seeks partnerships that facilitate advanced technology transfer to build domestic defense capabilities, which requires balancing strong foreign collaborations with a degree of autonomy. Such an approach allows India to modernize while reducing long-term dependency, ensuring that its defense partnerships, including with Israel, align with its strategic goal of a self-reliant defense sector. 

For example, the production of the Barak-8 missile system involves Indian firms in the supply chain, reflecting India’s efforts to incorporate domestic companies into high-tech defense projects. India has been advocating for similar arrangements in UAV and radar technologies, reinforcing its commitment to building indigenous capabilities across a wider range of defense technologies, as it builds a more autonomous defense production ecosystem. 

Analyze bilateral developments in cybersecurity and counterterrorism.

Cybersecurity has become a modern frontier in defense cooperation for India and Israel, with both countries sharing a strong interest in safeguarding infrastructure and state secrets against cyber threats. Their collaboration has deepened significantly in recent years, despite challenges and nuances. 

The partnership gained momentum in 2017 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel – the first by an Indian prime minister. During this visit, both countries signed an agreement to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, laying the foundation for an expanded framework in 2020 that facilitated dialogue, capacity building, and regular exchanges. This effort was further reinforced in June 2022 with a “Vision Statement” aimed at combining Israel’s advanced cybersecurity technology with India’s production capabilities to deepen defense cooperation.

Collaborations between private entities have also been pivotal in enhancing the cybersecurity landscape in both countries. For example, ThinkCyber India, a joint initiative between Israel’s ThinkCyber and India’s Deepview Consultancy, has invested $10 million to train thousands of “cyberologists” across Indian colleges. Israeli cybersecurity firms like Cymulate and Coralogix have also established a presence in India, introducing advanced technologies to secure cloud-native companies and foster tech cooperation. Another vital initiative is the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F), which funds projects in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other emerging tech areas, reflecting both countries’ commitment to innovation.

India and Israel engage in multilateral frameworks like the U.S.-led I2U2 group (India, Israel, the UAE, and the U.S.), which addresses regional security challenges, including China’s growing influence. This cooperation is particularly relevant as both countries face increasing cyber activities allegedly linked to China. In August 2021, for instance, Israel experienced a coordinated cyberattack targeting private and government organizations, underscoring the need for a robust Indo-Israeli cyber partnership.

Since formalizing their partnership, Israel has hosted Indian cyber officials for specialized training sessions in Tel Aviv, where they learn best practices in cyber threat mitigation and develop critical skills for securing industrial infrastructure, such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system protection.

However, the relationship has faced challenges, notably with the Pegasus controversy in India. Reports alleged that Pegasus spyware – developed by Israel’s NSO Group, which states it sells its technology only to governments – was used to surveil Indian journalists, activists, and opposition figures. While the details remain unconfirmed, the controversy has raised questions about cybersecurity ethics and state surveillance. This incident has intensified India’s scrutiny of foreign cybersecurity technologies and prompted a renewed focus on building indigenous capabilities, reflecting concerns over data sovereignty and accountability.

On counterterrorism, the threat of Islamist militant extremism and radical groups has steadily strengthened counterterrorism cooperation between India and Israel. This collaboration began in the 1990s in Jammu and Kashmir, where increasing cross-border infiltration and attacks led India to seek Israel’s expertise in training and security. In August 2001, Jane’s Terrorism and Security Monitor reported that Israel was actively involved in training Indian counterinsurgency forces, further solidifying the partnership.

The first meeting of the India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counterterrorism in 2002 underscored the importance of cooperation with Israel, whose extensive counterterrorism experience provided valuable insights. Since then, annual JWG meetings have facilitated exchanges on border security, aviation security, terror financing, and cybersecurity.

The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba exposed vulnerabilities in India’s security apparatus, strengthening the India-Israel relationship. The scale of the attacks, which left 140 Indians and 25 foreign tourists dead, including six Israelis, highlighted the need for advanced surveillance and defense systems. In response, India quickly acquired Israeli air and naval surveillance tools, including aerostat radars and thermal imaging devices, significantly enhancing border security. Israel also provided satellite imaging through TecSAR and Risat-2 satellites, improving India’s border monitoring and infiltration prevention.

This collaboration has profoundly influenced India’s leadership. During Israeli President Reuven Rivlin’s 2016 visit, counterterrorism was a central focus, with Prime Minister Modi describing terrorism as a “global challenge” and calling for united action against terror networks. The visit occurred soon after India’s surgical strikes in Uri, where Israeli-inspired tactics were employed, marking India’s shift from “strategic restraint” to a proactive counterterrorism approach. Modi compared India’s actions to Israel’s tactics, declaring that India is “no less than anybody” in countering terrorism. This shift was reaffirmed in the 2019 Balakot airstrike, where India targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp using Israeli-made SPICE-2000 bombs, underscoring India’s resolve to counter cross-border terrorism by drawing from Israel’s strategies.

Intelligence collaboration between India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Israel’s Mossad began as early as the 1980s, focused on shared threats from Islamist extremism. This partnership, however, requires diplomatic balance, as India’s strategic ties with Iran – a crucial regional partner for energy security – add complexity. India carefully maintains productive relations with both Israel and Iran while leveraging Israeli counterterrorism expertise. 

The nature of cooperation between RAW and Mossad remains largely covert, with both agencies operating outside the full parliamentary oversight seen in countries like the U.S. or U.K., where intelligence agencies are accountable to congressional or parliamentary committees. As a result, details of their operations are scarce in the public domain, reflecting the discreet and flexible nature of this counterterrorism collaboration.

Examine the Iranian dimension in India-Israel relations.

The Iranian dimension in India-Israel relations is a complex balancing act that reflects India’s strategic autonomy and its need to maintain parallel ties with both countries despite their adversarial relationship. The recent escalation between Israel and Iran, following the Hamas’ October 2023 attacks, underscores these complexities, as India must navigate its deepening defense and intelligence partnership with Israel alongside its strategic interests with Iran, particularly regarding regional connectivity.

Historically, India viewed Iran as a strategic partner, evident in the 2003 New Delhi Declaration, which laid the groundwork for defense cooperation and collaboration in regional stability efforts. Iran’s support for India’s position on Kashmir and its shared stance against the Taliban in Afghanistan strengthened this partnership. However, India’s growing defense ties with Israel, influenced by Israel’s expertise in counterterrorism and advanced military technology, led to reassurances to Israel about its relationship with Iran. 

By 2005, external pressures from the U.S. during the India-U.S. nuclear deal negotiations, along with U.N. sanctions on Iran in 2006, curtailed the defense relationship between India and Iran, refocusing their partnership on economic and connectivity projects, such as the Chabahar Port.

India ceased oil imports from Iran in 2019 due to U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration after it withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. This shift strained the economic dimension of India-Iran relations, previously bolstered by substantial oil trade. However, Iran remains strategically significant to India, especially through projects like the Chabahar Port, which provides India with critical access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.

Geopolitically, India’s position is further complicated by Iran’s closer ties with China and strained relations with the United States. India’s partnerships with the U.S. and Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have gradually shifted its priorities in the Middle East. While India shares Israel’s concerns over Iran’s missile development and support for regional militias, it diverges from Israel’s approach, favoring diplomatic solutions over military actions regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Despite these challenges, India’s policy of “strategic autonomy” allows it to maintain independent engagements with both Israel and Iran. India has refrained from aligning with Israel’s adversarial stance toward Iran, instead advocating for restraint and diplomacy to stabilize the region. Iran’s outreach to India for mediation and Lebanon’s call for India’s influence to promote a two-state solution highlight India’s perceived role as a stabilizing force in the region. 

The Iranian dimension in India-Israel relations demonstrates India’s diplomatic tightrope. By balancing its defense ties with Israel and strategic connectivity interests with Iran, India seeks to uphold regional stability and pursue its independent foreign policy objectives in a highly complex and volatile geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. 

How has Israel contributed to the development of India’s military industrial complex?

Israel has played an instrumental role in advancing India’s military-industrial complex, significantly enhancing India’s defense capabilities through technology transfer, joint ventures, and specialized training. Since formalizing diplomatic ties in 1992, the India-Israel partnership has expanded across missile technology, UAVs, cybersecurity, and electronic warfare, supporting the “Make in India” initiative, and contributing to a robust ecosystem of collaboration and innovation that spans both public and private sectors within India’s defense industry.

A cornerstone of this collaboration is the Barak missile series, particularly the Barak-8 surface-to-air missile system, co-developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). This joint project has bolstered India’s air defense and reduced dependency on imports by promoting indigenous production. Similarly, Israel’s expertise in UAV technology has enhanced India’s surveillance capabilities in critical regions like Kashmir. Indian forces rely on Israeli drones, such as the Heron and Searcher, and Israel’s technology transfers enable India to service, upgrade, and potentially manufacture UAV components domestically, supporting India’s independent UAV production capacity.

In radar technology, IAI integrated the EL/W-2090 “Phalcon” AESA radar into three IAF IL-76 aircraft, converting them into AWACS platforms, which provided India with its first airborne early warning and control capability, enhancing both surveillance and command operations.

In cybersecurity and electronic warfare, Israel has contributed essential technology and training to modernize India’s digital defenses. Israel’s support includes cybersecurity frameworks and joint training programs that have strengthened India’s military infrastructure and resilience against cyber threats. Satellite surveillance has also been enhanced through the launch of Israel’s TecSAR satellite by India’s ISRO, equipped with synthetic aperture radar, which has strengthened intelligence-gathering capacities for both countries and improved India’s border monitoring.

Israel’s influence extends further into joint ventures and production agreements that allow for high-tech defense systems to be manufactured locally in India. Partnerships like IAI’s collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Dynamatic Technologies Limited enable domestic UAV production, while HAL’s agreement with Elbit Systems to jointly develop a 2,000-kg VTOL rotary UAV has expanded India’s indigenous UAV expertise.

Elbit Systems has also collaborated with private firms like Adani Defense and Alpha Design Technologies, associated with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), to produce UAVs and electronic warfare technologies. In 2018, Elbit Systems and Adani Defense established a facility in Hyderabad to manufacture Hermes 900 MALE UAVs, marking Israel’s first overseas production of the Hermes drone. This partnership expanded in 2023, with India officially incorporating Hermes 900 UAVs into its defense inventory, demonstrating the tangible benefits of these collaborations.

In addition to UAV development, Elbit Systems’ partnership with Alpha Design Technologies has advanced India’s capabilities in electronic warfare and electro-optics, enabling domestic production of sophisticated defense systems and reducing reliance on imports. Other notable partnerships include IAI’s collaboration with Taneja Aerospace & Aviation Ltd. (TAAL) to produce crashworthy seats for civil and military aircraft, and an MoU between Israel’s Shachaf Engineering and India’s Mahindra Telephonics to co-develop strategic electronics for aerospace, marine, and automotive applications.

Through these collaborations, Israel has enabled India to significantly expand its defense production capabilities, supporting India’s strategic goal of a robust and self-sustained military-industrial complex. Despite these advancements, the partnership underscores India’s ongoing challenge of balancing defense imports with its ambition for self-reliance. While Israeli technology has been pivotal to India’s progress, the country’s continued reliance on foreign arms suppliers highlights the complexities of achieving full independence in defense production.

Assess how India and Israel are managing China-Russia cooperation in the Ukraine and Gaza wars and more vis-à-vis China-U.S. strategic competition.

India and Israel are carefully navigating the complexities of China-Russia cooperation in the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts amid intensified U.S.-China strategic competition. Both countries prioritize strategic autonomy, balancing their U.S. partnerships with independent policies that address their unique regional security needs while mitigating the implications of a strengthened China-Russia axis.

India’s position on the Ukraine war illustrates this approach. It has maintained a neutral stance, emphasizing peace and dialogue while avoiding direct criticism of Russia due to longstanding defense ties. Russia remains a crucial military supplier [for India], with systems like the S-400 missile defense highlighting India’s reliance on Russian technology. Concurrently, India is deepening security ties with the U.S. through the Quad to counterbalance China in the Indo-Pacific. This selective alignment strategy allows India to hedge against over-reliance on any single partner, strengthening its position in a multipolar world.

India has also taken advantage of discounted Russian oil prices since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022, bolstering its energy security amid global inflation pressures. However, international pressure from Western allies poses challenges, as they urge India to take a stronger stance against Russia. To manage these dynamics, India balances its economic and strategic interests by supporting dialogue and proposing itself as a potential mediator between the conflicting powers.

Israel, facing its own regional challenges, takes a similarly measured approach. In the context of the Ukraine crisis, Israel has largely refrained from providing military aid to Ukraine, focusing on humanitarian support instead. This cautious stance reflects Israel’s need to maintain a working relationship with Russia, especially regarding Russian military presence in Syria, which influences Israel’s security concerns related to Iranian proxies. Israel’s neutrality in the Ukraine conflict enables it to preserve stability in Syria, safeguarding its northern border without escalating tensions with Russia.

The recent Gaza conflict has deepened complexities for Israel, with Iran actively backing Hamas and other Islamist factions that oppose Israel. China’s support for Palestine, along with its growing ties with Iran, presents further strategic challenges, especially as China increasingly positions itself as a mediator in the Middle East, focusing on the Israel-Palestine conflict since the outbreak of the Gaza war. In response, Israel has strengthened its alignment with the U.S., securing advanced defense and strategic technologies to counterbalance Iranian-backed threats. However, Israel also maintains back channels with Russia to ensure its operations against Iranian influence in Syria are not disrupted by shifting regional dynamics.

China’s expanding influence in South Asia and the Middle East presents formidable challenges for both India and Israel, as it aggressively seeks to establish a dominant regional footprint through high-profile economic projects, political alliances, and strategic partnerships. In South Asia, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Pakistan and beyond directly impact India’s security interests, pushing India to counterbalance these moves by reinforcing the Quad alliance, advancing the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, and supporting U.S.-led initiatives like I2U2 and IMEC to assert its geoeconomic influence in the region. In the Middle East, China’s diplomatic support for Palestine and extensive investments in energy resources not only undercut Israel’s regional interests but also intensify strategic stakes, particularly as China positions itself as a mediator between rival states.

China’s economic leverage in the Middle East, driven by extensive energy investments, indirectly challenges Israel by reshaping regional alliances and deepening economic dependencies. With significant investments in countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states, China wields substantial influence in a region crucial to global energy markets. This allows China to solidify ties with states that may diverge from Israeli interests, such as Iran, which remains a direct adversary of Israel. Furthermore, as these countries grow economically dependent on China, shifts in political alignment may isolate Israel diplomatically. Moreover, China’s deepening engagement in the Middle East energy sector, especially in renewable and alternative energy projects, bolsters its image as a stabilizing force among regional actors, expanding its influence and potentially enabling it to shape regional dynamics in ways that could counterbalance U.S. and Israeli interests, thereby adding diplomatic constraints on Israel.

Compounding these challenges, the strengthening China-Russia partnership forces India and Israel to recalibrate their defense and diplomatic strategies to manage rising pressures. Both countries are actively countering this alliance by deepening military and technological cooperation with the United States. For India, this cooperation includes joint missile defense and cybersecurity initiatives aimed at countering China’s influence. High-profile military exercises like Malabar with Quad allies serve as a strong signal of deterrence, particularly against potential Chinese encroachment in the Indian Ocean. Israel, for its part, leverages U.S.-backed defense systems like the Iron Dome and advanced surveillance capabilities to counter persistent threats from Iran and maintain its strategic stability amid intensifying geopolitical rivalries.

In this complex landscape, India and Israel are adopting nuanced strategies to counterbalance China’s and Russia’s growing regional influence, bolstering their regional autonomy while securing partnerships that align with their long-term security and diplomatic goals. Both countries skilfully manage relationships with the U.S. and regional powers without compromising their strategic independence. For India, selective alignment provides a counterbalance to China’s influence in South Asia while avoiding full alignment against Russia, thus preserving its autonomy. Similarly, Israel’s calibrated diplomacy with Russia and cautious economic ties with China strengthen its regional interests while maintaining its crucial alliance with the U.S. The shared reliance on strategic autonomy and calculated engagement underscores India and Israel’s adept navigation of multipolar tensions amid U.S.-China competition and China-Russia cooperation.