For many years, India’s defence sector depended heavily on weapons and equipment imported from other countries. That picture has begun to change in recent times as the government pushes its Atmanirbhar Bharat policy. While domestic manufacturing is growing, India is also strengthening its military capabilities through carefully chosen international partnerships.
India faces security challenges on two fronts. Pakistan lies along the western border and China along the eastern frontier. Both neighbours have had strained relations with India, including past military conflicts. As a result, Indian defence planners are preparing for the possibility of simultaneous threats from both directions. Recent developments, including Operation Sindoor, have further underlined the need for advanced and reliable defence systems.
To meet these challenges, India is steadily upgrading its armed forces. The Navy plans to induct a new warship roughly every six weeks, while the Army is expanding its use of drones and modern surveillance tools. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is also undergoing major modernisation, with large investments in fighter aircraft, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, precision-guided bombs, and air defence systems designed to counter aerial threats.
Against this backdrop, a major development has emerged. India is preparing to sign a large defence deal with Israel for the purchase of advanced weapons, missiles, and precision-guided munitions. Some of these systems have long-range strike capabilities of up to 300-400 kilometres, significantly enhancing the IAF’s operational reach.
According to reports, defence cooperation between India and Israel is entering a new and important phase. As per Indian Defence News, India is close to finalising a deal worth around USD 8.7 billion (approximately Rs 78,217 crore) to further strengthen the IAF. The proposed package includes advanced systems such as SPICE-1000 precision-guided bombs, Rampage missiles, Air LORA missiles, and Ice Breaker weapons.
The proposal has already been approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The timing of the deal is significant. China has deployed advanced air defence systems along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), while Pakistan has reportedly used techniques such as GPS jamming during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. These developments have increased the need for weapons that can operate accurately in contested and electronically hostile environments.
India is already Israel’s largest defence customer. Data shows that 34 per cent of Israel’s total defence exports between 2020 and 2024 went to India. The new deal goes beyond missiles and bombs, and is expected to include air-to-air missiles, loitering munitions, modern radar systems, simulators, and network-based command and control systems.
One of the key weapons in focus is the Rampage missile, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The missile is already in service with both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. It can be launched from aircraft such as the Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, and MiG-29K.
Weighing around 570 kilograms, the Rampage missile uses GPS and inertial navigation systems (INS) and is designed with strong anti-jamming features. It is capable of striking high-value targets such as enemy airbases, bunkers, command centres, control towers, and logistics facilities from a safe distance. Its operational effectiveness was demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, where it was used against terrorist infrastructure.
Overall, the proposed deal reflects India’s evolving defence strategy, combining self-reliance with strategic global partnerships to ensure readiness in a rapidly changing security environment.
