Israel, India strengthen security cooperation against global drone threat

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Israeli and Indian officials held a seminar last week in the Indian capital, Delhi, aimed at enhancing bilateral security cooperation to address the growing global drone threat. Drones are being used increasingly for a variety of missions, including intelligence gathering, precision strikes, and weapon delivery.

The high-level seminar resulted from a collaboration between the Indian Defense Ministry and the Israeli Defense Ministry’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT).

“The seminar reflected the commitment of India and Israel to continue and deepen security cooperation between the countries,” said Indian Defense Ministry representative Shri Amit Satija. “We see great importance in sharing knowledge and technologies and in developing joint solutions to the modern threats facing both sides.”

Israeli officials expressed similar sentiments regarding the security cooperation between the two countries.

“We see great importance in continuing the security cooperation between the countries,” assessed SIBAT’s head IDF Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas.

“The seminar provided a unique opportunity for Israeli defense industries to create business opportunities, develop connections with government officials and key local industry players, and establish B2B [business-to-business] relationships with Indian companies,” he added.

The seminar also included representatives from the Israeli embassy in India, the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers (SIDM) and the Israel Export Institute.

Israeli defense companies, such as Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, ELTA Systems and SKYLOCK presented cutting-edge technologies designed to confront the growing drone threat.

Natasha Zangin, head of the Israel Economic & Trade Mission to India, highlighted that the commercial potential of dual-use technologies could also be applied in various civilian sectors.

“The recent seminar, during which over 100 business meetings took place, is a vivid example of the great interest in the local market for dual-use technologies from Israel,” Zangin stated. “Israeli technological solutions, especially in the field of homeland security, are highly regarded in India and attract significant interest from both public and private sectors among the leading entities in the Indian economy.”

Israel and India established diplomatic relations at the end of the Cold War in 1992. The two nations eventually established close commercial, scientific and military ties.

In recent years, Israeli defense companies have become key suppliers of advanced military technologies to the Indian military. While Israel has advanced drone capabilities, India possesses significant industrial production capabilities. For example, India became the first nation to locally produce Israeli-developed drones.

In February, India reportedly delivered several Israeli-developed Hermes 900 drones from a factory in India to the Israeli military amid the war against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.

The war in Gaza has led to growing international calls for partial or complete weapons boycotts against Israel, however, bilateral ties between India and Israel have remained strong throughout the war.

In addition, India's government has expressed strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Iranian-led terror proxies Hamas and Hezbollah and was quick to condemn the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion and attack in Israel. While India is generally positive toward Israel, there have been anti-Israel sentiments among India’s large Muslim minority, which constitutes around 15% of India’s total population.