India and Israel are deepening their defense cooperation, with New Delhi seeking to manufacture advanced Israeli missile systems on Indian soil as part of the Make in India initiative.
New Defense Agreements#
Ministry of Defense director general Gen. (res.) Amir Baram recently signed a memorandum of understanding with his Indian counterpart Rajesh Kumar Singh to strengthen bilateral defense collaboration. India remains Israel’s largest defense customer, accounting for approximately 34% of all Israeli defense exports between 2020 and 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Missiles Under Discussion#
A delegation from the Indian Ministry of Defense has visited Israel to negotiate agreements for procuring and manufacturing two key missile systems:
Air Lora Ballistic Missiles (Israel Aerospace Industries)
- Range: 400 kilometers
- Weight: 1,600 kilograms
- Features: Supersonic speed, satellite navigation with anti-jamming protection, “fire and forget” capability
- Accuracy: Within 10 meters of target
- Purpose: Attacking missile sites, military bases, and air defense systems
Ice Breaker Cruise Missiles (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)
- Range: Approximately 300 kilometers
- Targets: Land and sea
- Features: All-weather capability, electronic warfare resistance, AI-powered infrared navigation and target acquisition
Strategic Context#
India’s interest in the Air Lora stems from the success of Israeli Rampage missiles during recent skirmishes with Pakistan. While the Rampage’s 250-kilometer range has proven effective, India seeks greater standoff distance to protect combat aircraft from Pakistani air defense systems. The Air Lora’s extended range would allow Indian Sukhoi 30 and MiG 29 aircraft to strike targets without entering enemy air defense envelopes.
IAI’s Presence in India#
Israel Aerospace Industries has established significant operations in India, including its subsidiary Aerospace Services India (ASI), launched last year. ASI employs 50 workers, 97% of whom are Indian citizens, with headquarters in Delhi and manufacturing facilities across the country. The company was established through cooperation between IAI and India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop and support installations for India’s armed forces.
Source: Globes
