Seth J. Frantzman
JERUSALEM — Israel and India reaffirmed defense ties on Tuesday, with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance defense, industrial, and technological cooperation.
The new MOU, announced by Israel’s Ministry of Defense, is the latest in the developing strategic partnership between the two countries. It came during the annual meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) of Israel and India.
Amir Baram, the Israel Ministry of Defense’s director general, said in a government statement that “our strategic partnership is based on deep mutual trust and shared security interests. We view India as a first-rate strategic partner and are determined to continue deepening cooperation in the fields of defense, technology, and industry.”
Outside of those broad descriptions, it’s unclear what may come out of the MOU. However, it’s notable that while visiting, the Indian delegation met with CEOs from Israeli firms, according to the announcement.
Although the statement did not specify which CEOs were involved, Israel’s big three defense firms — Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems — have all done business in India, frequently working with joint ventures as part of the Make in India policy that New Delhi pushes at home. Israeli defense industries have cooperated on air defense, UAS and other systems in deals worth billions of dollars over the last decade.
During the meetings with the Israeli industry heads, “innovative and groundbreaking Israeli technologies were presented, along with ideas and projects aimed at deepening industrial-defense partnerships between Israel’s defense industries and India,” per the statement.
The ministry further noted that “Israel was represented by senior officials from the Ministry, including the directors of the Political-Military Bureau, the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), the Directorate of Security of the Defense Establishment, and the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), alongside representatives from the IDF Planning Directorate and other defense officials. The Indian delegation also included senior representatives from the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces.”
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