By A Correspondent

Tel Aviv/New Delhi: India and Israel have taken a major leap in their growing strategic partnership with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation, a move that signals deeper collaboration in cutting-edge military technologies and security coordination between the two nations.

The agreement was signed in Tel Aviv during the 17th India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Defence Cooperation held on Nov. 4, 2025, co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Israel’s Director General of the Ministry of Defence, Major General (Res.) Amir Baram.

The MoU coincided with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s visit to New Delhi, where he held wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.

According to an official statement, the new understanding provides “a unified vision and policy direction” to deepen defence cooperation and strengthen the strategic bond between the two countries.

It lays out a roadmap for closer collaboration in emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, defence innovation, and research and development (R&D) — while promoting co-development and co-production of advanced systems.

The JWG reviewed existing defence projects and discussed new areas of collaboration to enhance both nations’ operational capabilities.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism and other shared threats through technology sharing, intelligence cooperation, and joint defence innovation.

India and Israel have built one of the most trusted and productive defence partnerships over the past three decades.

Since establishing full diplomatic relations in 1992, Israel has become one of India’s top defence suppliers, providing everything from advanced radar systems and precision-guided munitions to drones and missile technology.

Israeli systems like the Barak surface-to-air missile and HARPY drones have played a key role in strengthening India’s defence preparedness and technological edge.

The latest MoU comes at a time of growing global uncertainty and regional challenges. Israeli Foreign Minister Saar, speaking to NDTV during his visit, described India as a “global superpower” and said the partnership between the two democracies “is stronger than ever.”

His comments reflect a broader strategic convergence: rooted in mutual trust, shared security interests, and technological cooperation.

Earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had highlighted the combat performance of Israeli-made systems used by India during “Operation Sindoor,” saying they had “worked very well on the field” and were “battle-tested.”

During the operation, the Indian military reportedly used Barak missiles, HARPY drones, and indigenous systems to successfully counter waves of enemy missile attacks in May 2025 during Operation Sindoor.

The signing of the new MoU marks the beginning of a new phase in India-Israel defence cooperation, one that goes beyond simple procurement towards joint innovation, indigenous production, and future-ready capability development.

Both nations are now looking to pool their technological strengths to build advanced, interoperable defence systems and address the fast-changing security challenges of the 21st century.

With this agreement, India and Israel have reaffirmed their shared vision: to not only strengthen their own national security but also contribute to regional and global stability through innovation, resilience, and partnership.

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