India gains a strategic defence advantage as the US and Israel strengthen technology-driven military cooperation. A new report highlights India’s expanding partnerships with Washington and Jerusalem through iCET, INDUS-X, and Israeli defence collaboration, positioning New Delhi as a global defence innovation leader.
India is emerging as one of the biggest strategic beneficiaries as the United States and Israel strengthen their defence relationship through advanced technology collaboration rather than conventional military alliances, according to a new report published in the Times of Israel. The report suggests that New Delhi’s long-standing partnerships with both Washington and Jerusalem place it in a unique position to benefit from the rapidly evolving global defence innovation ecosystem.
Global Affairs commentator and author Saurav Dutt, writing for the Times of Israel, argued that recent US defence legislation has generated widespread attention over claims that the United States and Israel are moving toward military integration. However, he clarified that the real significance of the legislation lies elsewhere.
According to Dutt, the legislation does not establish a NATO-style military alliance or create a unified military command. Instead, it focuses on building an integrated defence innovation ecosystem centred on advanced technologies, research collaboration, and industrial partnerships. This shift, he noted, presents significant opportunities for countries like India that already maintain close defence and technology ties with both nations.
The report highlighted that India has steadily strengthened its defence relationship with Israel over the past two decades. During this period, New Delhi has acquired more than 10 billion US dollars worth of Israeli defence equipment, making Israel one of India’s leading defence suppliers.
India’s acquisitions include airborne early warning aircraft, Barak missile defence systems, advanced radar technologies, Heron unmanned aerial vehicles, Harop loitering munitions, and sophisticated electronic warfare systems. These procurements have significantly enhanced India’s military capabilities while strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Dutt further explained that increased American investment in Israel’s defence sector is expected to accelerate technological innovation through larger research budgets, stronger industrial collaboration, and greater access to American laboratories. Such developments are likely to produce next-generation defence technologies that could eventually become accessible to India through its expanding strategic partnerships.
The report also emphasised that Washington has already established a comparable technology-focused partnership with India. One of the key pillars of this cooperation is the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), launched jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Joe Biden in 2023.
The iCET framework promotes collaboration across critical sectors including artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, quantum computing, telecommunications, space technology, and defence innovation. Complementing this initiative is INDUS-X, which connects startups, defence companies, investors, research institutions, and government agencies from both countries to encourage joint development, innovation, and co-production.
Simultaneously, India has expanded technological cooperation with Israel through the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F). Additional collaborations in emerging and critical technologies have also been launched under the guidance of the National Security Advisors of both countries, further strengthening bilateral strategic engagement.
According to the report, India’s greatest strategic advantage lies in its ability to maintain advanced technology partnerships with both Washington and Jerusalem simultaneously. Very few countries enjoy such comprehensive relationships with the United States and Israel, placing New Delhi in a uniquely favourable position within the global defence innovation landscape.
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As defence cooperation increasingly shifts from traditional arms purchases toward joint research, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, and emerging technologies, India’s expanding partnerships are expected to enhance its strategic influence and defence preparedness. The report concludes that New Delhi’s balanced engagement with both the United States and Israel provides it with a competitive advantage that few nations can currently match, reinforcing India’s growing role in the future of global defence technology and security cooperation.
