India Expands Airpower Through Israeli Aircraft and Defense Technology Deals

India is deepening one of its most important defense partnerships, turning to Israeli firms for aircraft, sensors, and weapons that now sit at the center of several major modernization efforts. 

Over the past two years, New Delhi has moved forward on tanker aircraft conversions, advanced radar installations, precision-guided munitions, and joint production ventures that embed Israeli technology directly into Indian platforms rather than treating them as add-ons.

The relationship has evolved from occasional arms purchases into sustained industrial and technical cooperation. Today, Israeli systems help power Indian fighter jets, extend their range, and improve strike accuracy.

India’s Ministry of Defence formally describes this shift toward international technology partnerships and domestic co-production as part of its broader modernization and self-reliance strategy. Recent bilateral defense cooperation agreements between India and Israel are also documented in reporting on new government-to-government technology memoranda.

Aerial Tankers to Extend India’s Reach

The most visible development involves aerial refueling aircraft. India’s current fleet of Russian-built Il-78 tankers is aging and costly to maintain. To address this gap, the Indian Air Force is moving toward acquiring converted Boeing 767 aircraft that can serve as Multi-Mission Tanker Transport planes. The work is expected to be handled by Israel Aerospace Industries, which specializes in converting commercial jets for military refueling roles.

The proposed deal covers six aircraft and is valued at roughly $900 million. These tankers would allow Indian fighters such as the Rafale and Su-30MKI to remain airborne longer and operate farther from base, a critical capability in any extended air campaign.

Indian reporting notes that Israel Aerospace Industries has indicated it can meet New Delhi’s “Make in India” requirement by performing part of the work locally rather than abroad, reflecting India’s push for domestic industrial participation alongside foreign technology transfers.  

Israeli Systems Inside Indian Fighter Jets

The partnership goes well beyond aircraft purchases. Israeli technology is already embedded inside Indian fighters.

India’s domestically built Tejas light combat aircraft incorporates Israeli avionics, including advanced radar and electronic warfare components that significantly improve detection and survivability. These upgrades bring the jet closer to the capabilities of modern Western fighters without requiring India to design every subsystem itself.

In practice, that means key mission systems inside the Tejas are sourced from Israeli defense firms rather than built entirely in-house. The aircraft’s newer variants use Israeli-made active electronic scanned array radar technology and electronic warfare suites to improve target tracking, threat detection, and pilot awareness, giving the jet longer engagement ranges and better survivability against modern air defenses. 

Analysts describe this as part of a broader pattern in which Israeli sensors, radars, and avionics are becoming standard equipment across multiple Indian platforms, reflecting a shift from simple arms purchases toward deeper technology integration and co-development. 

Precision Weapons and Broader Procurement

Aircraft and sensors are only part of the picture. India has also expanded purchases of Israeli precision weapons.

Recent approvals include large orders of SPICE air-to-surface bomb guidance kits produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. These kits convert conventional bombs into precision-guided munitions that can strike accurately from longer distances, reducing risk to pilots and improving effectiveness.

The SPICE system adds satellite and electro-optical guidance to standard bombs, allowing pilots to hit fixed targets with greater accuracy while staying outside heavily defended airspace, a capability that strengthens India’s stand-off strike options. Indian defense reporting describes these purchases as part of a broader expansion of Rafael’s role in India’s arsenal and a wider push to equip the air force with more precision munitions rather than unguided bombs. 

At the same time, industry analyses note that Israel has become one of India’s largest and most consistent defense suppliers overall, with regular sales of missiles, sensors, and aircraft subsystems that together place it among New Delhi’s top foreign partners for military technology.  

From Imports to Joint Production

What distinguishes the current phase is India’s insistence on manufacturing at home.

Rather than importing finished systems, New Delhi increasingly requires foreign firms to form joint ventures and share expertise. Israeli companies have responded by setting up local partnerships designed to transfer knowledge and produce components inside India.

Israel Aerospace Industries and Indian firm DCX Systems recently announced such a joint venture focused on advanced aerospace electronics and radar technologies. 

These arrangements align with India’s broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” or self-reliant India, policy, which emphasizes domestic production of critical defense equipment.

Why the Partnership Matters

Strategically, the timing is clear. India faces continued tensions with both Pakistan and China and wants a longer reach, better sensors, and more precise strike capability.

Tankers extend operational range. Israeli radars improve target tracking. Precision kits sharpen accuracy. Each technology addresses a specific operational gap.

The result is not a single dramatic purchase but a steady integration of Israeli systems across India’s air force. Over time, that approach reshapes how Indian aircraft fly, fight, and sustain missions.