India and Israel have built one of the world's most consequential bilateral defence partnerships, one characterised by technology transfer depth and operational credibility that few other bilateral relationships can match. From the Barak naval air defence system to Heron tactical UAVs, Spike anti-tank missiles, and Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems, Israeli defence technology has been woven into the fabric of India's military capabilities across all three services. The Bharat Defence Tech Show has been an important forum for deepening this partnership and identifying the next generation of India-Israel collaborative opportunities.
Israel's approach to India has evolved significantly from pure export to genuine partnership. Israeli companies including Rafael, Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Elop have established joint ventures, technology transfer agreements, and co-development programmes with Indian partners. BDTS has been a platform where these partnerships are publicly showcased, encouraging other Israeli companies to adopt similar co-development models.
The technology domains of greatest India-Israel collaborative potential highlighted at BDTS include loitering munitions, where Israeli companies lead the world; cyber warfare tools and deception technologies; electro-optic and infrared sensor systems for missile seekers and ISR platforms; active protection systems for armoured vehicles; and precision-guided artillery ammunition. In each of these areas, Indian companies have the manufacturing scale and cost competitiveness that Israeli companies seek, while Israel has the combat-proven technology and operational experience that India values.
BDTS has also facilitated discussions on the establishment of a dedicated India-Israel Defence Innovation Fund that would co-invest in startups developing dual-use technologies with applications in both countries' defence ecosystems. This concept has received strong support from both governments' defence technology promotion agencies.
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