By MANGESH SAWANT

Israel and India are progressive islands of democracies situated in a sea of autocracies interspersed with nuclear unstable nations. Israel and India face similar asymmetric and symmetric threats such as terrorism and wars. Terrorism and wars are the policy instruments of hostile neighboring nations. Israel is threatened by terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran supports terrorist groups, ratchets up geopolitical tensions and is working on developing a nuclear bomb. Pakistan which is the epicenter of terrorism has been attacking targets in India through radical Islamic groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-I-Mohammad. China has fought a war with India and intermittently attacks Indian army soldiers guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Israel has played a pivotal role as a trustworthy partner of the Indian military and the defense industry. The two nations have strategically fostered productive relations in the defense sector for more than three decades. Israel is the second largest supplier of weapon systems to India. In 2021 both nations signed an agreement to set up a 10-year roadmap in the arena of defense cooperation that will make India the largest importer of Israeli defense equipment. Military technology transfers, joint defense research programs and Israel's advanced weapons systems such as UAVs, missiles, and missile defense systems have enhanced India's offensive and defensive capabilities since the Kargil conflict.

The Indian army has deployed Israeli thermal imaging and night vision imaging equipment on the Line of Control and in counter-terrorism operations in Kashmir. The Indian Army has also deployed Heron drones on the LAC since the 2017 Doklam crisis. The SPICE bomb was used by the Indian Air Force to strike terrorist training camps in Pakistan. The Indian Navy’s MARCOS are equipped with the TAR-21 assault rifles and Galil sniper rifles. The Indian Navy has installed the EL/M 2248 MF-STAR and EL/M-2221 STGR radars on its frontline destroyers. Israeli defense companies such as IAI, Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have set up joint ventures with Bharat Forge, Adani Group and Tata Advanced Systems.

Though arms sales have been the primary focus of the bilateral relationship, the expansion of strategic partnership and cooperation on the military operational framework is missing. The following are the areas where India and Israel could cooperate tactically:

● A center for the study of warfare could be established at the upcoming National Defense University in New Delhi. Both nations have deep experience in fighting wars, insurgencies and terrorism. The center could facilitate interaction between the two militaries, prepare case studies and lessons learned and conduct workshops, seminars and simulations. 

● Israeli special forces could conduct asymmetric warfare courses in Indian military staff and command colleges.

● Israeli special forces units specializing in urban warfare can impart training to the Indian Army’s 4 Para (SF) and 9 Para (SF) who specialize in counter-terrorism operations in Kashmir.

● Israeli special forces training and Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) could be incorporated by the Indian Army Para (SF) regiments.

● The Indian Army and Israeli Army Special Forces units operating in deserts can train together in desert warfare and exchange lessons learned.

● Close coordination between Indian and Israeli intelligence agencies at the TTP, collection and technical levels could be fostered for common threats in the Middle East and South Asia.

● Rashtriya Rifles operating in Kashmir could gain valuable insights from Israeli counter-terrorism units.

● Israeli military advisors could be embedded during the Indian special forces planning process and at the operational levels for strategic advice and tactical guidance.

● Indian intelligence agencies could gain from the technological advances made in Israeli SIGINT and IMINT collection and dissemination framework.

● Both nations could expand air, naval and army training and military exercises.

●Israeli counter-terrorism units could collaborate with the National Security Guards in the areas of TTPs, reconnaissance, training in Krav Maga and close-quarters combat (CQB) in urban areas

●Intelligence communities of both nations could actively cooperate in the areas of counter-terrorism and tactical operations against terrorist groups in the Middle East and South Asia.

● The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Israeli defense industries could initiate space cooperation in the areas of IMINT and SIGINT which can be used for C4ISR and border security in South Asia.

The spectrum of India-Israel relations continues to expand. Cooperation in the operational dimension will align their objectives and capabilities to deal with the common asymmetric and symmetric threats in the Middle East and South Asia. Regular exchanges between the militaries and intelligence agencies of both nations will further strengthen existing defense cooperation. The relationship should advance beyond buying weapons and setting up joint enterprises, to collaboration on military operations.

Mangesh Sawant is the CEO and Managing Partner at an international security and geopolitical risk consulting firm. He has a Masters in International Affairs Degree from Columbia University, New York where he concentrated in international security policy.. Read full bio here.