A joint venture between Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) and India’s Adani Group has secured a major contract to supply assault rifles to the Indian Army, marking another milestone in Israel-India defense cooperation.
The Deal#
PLR Systems, the joint venture between IWI (controlled by Samy Katsav through SK Group) and Adani Corporation (which also owns Haifa Port), will deliver 425,000 CQB carbine assault rifles to the Indian Army. The contract is part of a larger $3.3 billion procurement deal that also includes rifles from Bharat Forge.
The Israeli-Indian joint venture will receive approximately 40% of the deal value, amounting to roughly $1.32 billion. Bharat Forge will handle the remaining 60%. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in September 2026 and conclude by 2028.
Make in India Program#
The contract falls under India’s Make in India initiative, which requires products to be designed and manufactured domestically with at least 50% local content (or 60% if not designed locally). According to Dr. Lauren Dagan Amos, a researcher on India’s foreign and security policy at Bar-Ilan University, the deal represents “a clear expression of the self-reliance policy in security” led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Israel-India Defense Relations#
India has become Israel’s primary defense export destination. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), approximately 34% of Israeli defense exports between 2020 and 2024 were sold to India. Multiple Israeli defense companies, including Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, operate production facilities in India.
The relationship extends beyond rifles. Reports indicate India is interested in procuring additional Israeli weapons systems, including IAI’s LORA missiles. This interest has grown following increased tensions with Pakistan, particularly after May skirmishes where Rampage air-to-ground missiles (jointly produced by Elbit’s IMI unit, IAI’s MLM plant, and Tomer) struck Pakistani air force bases.
Why LORA Missiles#
The LORA missile system offers significant advantages over the Rampage missiles currently in India’s arsenal. While Rampage has a range of 150-250 kilometers, LORA can reach targets at 400 kilometers, allowing Indian fighter jets to strike without risking exposure to Chinese-made Pakistani defense systems.
Developed at IAI’s MLM plant, the LORA missile weighs approximately 1,600 kilograms, flies at supersonic speed, and uses satellite navigation protected from jamming. Its “launch and forget” capability means no in-flight guidance is required, and its strike accuracy of approximately ten meters makes it highly effective against precision targets like missile sites, military bases, and air defense systems.
Source: Globes
