2 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Mideast Power Plays in India and Pakistan
Israeli weapons played an important role in last month's conflict between India and Pakistan, highlighting the flourishing India-Israel defense partnership. Israel unequivocally backed New Delhi, and the accuracy of India's Israeli-made weapons contrasted with the ineffectiveness of Pakistan's Turkish-made drones, which appear to have done little damage to Indian targets.
Nitin Gokhale, a prominent Indian national-security analyst, says in a phone interview that Israeli drones, including the precision-guided Palm 400, Harop suicide drone and radar-destroying Harpy, performed well during the conflict. According to Mr. Gokhale, the Indian military is also pleased with its French fighter jets, Russian missile defense and the co-developed BrahMos missile, U.S. surveillance aircraft, and the indigenously developed Akash air-defense missile.
How did Israel become a major arms supplier to India, the world's second-largest arms importer behind Ukraine? By developing a reputation in New Delhi for dependability in a crunch. Many Israeli weapons are on the cutting edge of technology that India seeks. And Israeli defense firms work closely with local counterparts. Israel Aerospace Industries has several joint ventures with Indian companies and set up an Indian subsidiary. Israel's Elbit Systems collaborates with Bharat Forge to make artillery and mortar systems and with Adani Defence & Aerospace to make drones.
For India, cooperation with Israel diversifies its supply chain and expands its access to high-tech weapons. For Israel, access to the Indian market expands its defense-industrial base. The India-Israel partnership also benefits the U.S., whose own weapons sales to India have grown significantly over the past 25 years. India's turn toward American allies draws New Delhi closer to the West and reduces its dependence on Russian weapons.
