New Delhi—Breaking news that illustrates India’s rise as a global defence manufacturing base, Israel has ordered to procure (₹150 crore worth of advanced rocket launcher systems from Indian defence manufacturers. This will be the first time Israel will source major weapon systems from India’s defence manufacturers and flip the sell-buy relationship it has had with India for decades.
This not only indicates the advancing maturity and development of India’s indigenous defence production capabilities, but also represents the increasing level of strategic trust between the two countries. Defence officials from both parties welcomed the agreement as a “milestone moment” in bilateral relations and a giant step for India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) strategic objective.
Deal Details: What’s Being Bought and Who’s Making It
According to defence sources with direct knowledge of the deal, the Israeli Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with a consortium led by India’s private-sector defence major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and supported by state-run Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). The order includes high-mobility rocket launcher systems that are capable of launching a variety of tactical surface-to-surface rockets with precision.
The launchers are reportedly based on India’s indigenous Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) platform, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Though Israel has not confirmed the exact platform, sources indicate that a customized version of the Pinaka system — mounted on high-mobility vehicles and integrated with advanced fire control systems — will be delivered in stages over the next 18 to 24 months.
“This is not just a commercial sale, it is a testament to the confidence the Israeli defence establishment has in India’s technological and industrial capability,” said a senior DRDO official on condition of anonymity.
Why This Deal Matters: Strategic and Industrial Implications
This deal is being seen as a “reverse flow” in defence trade between India and Israel. For decades, Israel has supplied India with critical military equipment, including drones, radar systems, air defence systems, and electronic warfare suites. Now, Israel has chosen India as a source of high-grade, battle-tested weapon systems — a remarkable endorsement.
Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, former Indian Army Commander, called the agreement “symbolic and strategic,” noting, “It sends a powerful message to the world — India is no longer merely a buyer of defence hardware but a credible exporter of high-technology systems.”
In addition to its diplomatic and strategic significance, the ₹150 crore order provides a crucial push to India’s domestic defence manufacturing sector, which has been aggressively encouraged through policy reforms like the Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) and liberalised FDI norms.
According to the Ministry of Defence, India’s defence exports were a record ₹21,000 crore in FY 2024-25, and this deal with Israel is expected to increase that number.
Behind the scenes: Quiet diplomacy for months
Despite the sudden announcement, sources say talks have been in process for a year. Israeli defence officials first evaluated the Indian rocket launchers during joint military exercises and confidential demonstrations in Rajasthan’s Pokhran range.
A senior Israeli procurement official, speaking to this reporter under confidentiality, said: “We were impressed not just with the performance, but also with the cost-efficiency and modularity of the Indian systems. Our evaluation teams conducted technical assessments in India and were satisfied with the system’s combat-readiness and integration flexibility.”
Looking Ahead: Doors Open for Future Collaborations
Experts believe this deal could open the floodgates for more defence trade between India and technologically advanced Western allies.
“Israel is one of the most discerning defence buyers in the world,” said Dr. Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. “If India can meet their standards, it can meet NATO standards. This could pave the way for exports to Europe and beyond.”
Moreover, the L&T-BEML-DRDO collaboration sets a precedent for successful public-private partnerships in the sector — a model that may soon become the backbone of India’s defence industrial ecosystem.
A Shift in India’s Defence Story
The ₹150 crore rocket launcher deal with Israel is more than a contract. It is a strategic endorsement and a technological hug, but importantly, a big announcement of India’s rising position in the defence arena of the world.
In this new geopolitical environment where nations are changing their defence supply chains, India looks set not just to join the race but hopefully remain ahead in the race. With ‘Make-in-India’ momentum and global confidence moving in favour of Indian arms manufacturers it appears the next phase of India’s defence exports will be rocket-powered!
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