India-Israel Defence Cooperation Enters Strategic Overdrive

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As PM Modi meets Netanyahu, India-Israel defence cooperation sharpens around Iron Dome, AI, cyber security and joint weapons production amid Pakistan-China axis concerns.

By TRH Foreign Affairs Desk

New Delhi, February 26, 2026 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to significantly deepen India-Israel defence cooperation, with high-stakes discussions centred on advanced weapon systems, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and joint defence manufacturing.

Speaking to Al Arabiya English, Founder-President of MISS, Professor Dr. Shanthie D’Souza, underscored the strategic weight of the visit. “I think it’s significant given the fact that last year in May, during the conflict and the war with Pakistan, Israel weapons played a very instrumental and key role,” said Prof. Dr. Shanthie D’Souza.

Her remarks refer to Operation Sindoor (May 2025), when Israeli-origin systems reportedly played a decisive role during India’s military engagement with Pakistan.

Israel: India’s Reliable Strategic Partner

According to Prof. D’Souza, Israel has consistently proven itself as a dependable defence partner. “It’s always been seen that Israel has been a reliable partner. Defence, AI, cyber technology, cyber security and quantum have become the keystone of the strategic partnership between India and Israel.”

Data projections indicate that India is emerging as one of the largest buyers of Israeli defence equipment, accounting for nearly 34% of Israel’s defence sales — a significant marker of trust and interoperability.

While India expands procurement, the emphasis is now shifting from purchase to co-production and joint production, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Iron Dome and Joint Production: A Game-Changer?

One of the most closely watched aspects of the Modi-Netanyahu talks is India’s interest in Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system. “India is definitely looking towards Iron Dome. Given the fact that these weapons came in very useful during Operation Sindoor … defence has become the key and important segment of the relationship,” Prof. D’Souza noted.

The possibility of co-producing advanced systems like Iron Dome in India would mark a structural shift — from buyer-seller dynamics to long-term strategic integration.

Countering the Pakistan-China Axis

Beyond hardware, the geopolitical calculus is clear. Prof. D’Souza highlighted the growing convergence between Pakistan and China.

“The counterterrorism aspect gains greater credibility given the fact that Pakistan is looking at working with China. Thereby, to counterbalance, India is looking towards working with Israel on weapons co-production and joint production.”

This triangular strategic balancing underscores why India-Israel defence cooperation is no longer transactional — it is structural, technological and geopolitical.

AI, Cyber and Quantum: The New Frontier

While defence hardware dominates headlines, the real transformation lies in AI, cyber security and quantum technologies — areas where Israel is globally competitive and India seeks rapid capacity expansion.

The Modi-Netanyahu dialogue is expected to fast-track technology transfer frameworks, joint R&D pipelines and defence start-up integration, blending Israel’s innovation ecosystem with India’s scale and manufacturing ambitions.

The Modi-Netanyahu meeting is not merely diplomatic choreography. It represents a consolidation phase in India-Israel defence cooperation — moving from procurement dependency to co-production, from tactical alignment to strategic convergence.

If Iron Dome integration and AI collaboration move forward, this visit could redefine India’s western defence architecture.