The recent developments between Israel and India in terms of defence cooperation not only indicate the new phase of defence trade that India is witnessing, moving away from mere import substitution towards a Make in India initiative with Israeli technological advancements in defence hardware.
A major case in point in this regard is that of ATEMM (All-Terrain Electric Mission Module) contract, wherein an Indian company named Belrise Industries joined hands with Israel-based Plasan Sasa and began co-producing advanced all-terrain robotic platforms that can be used in military applications. These platforms have been made with a purpose of increasing payload capacity, mobility, and energy efficacy in modern-day forces, and part of its success has been based on production in India through self-reliance initiatives of the Indian government.
This cooperation is a part of a larger trend shift that India and Israel are undergoing. Historically, Israel was a major weaponry supplier country for the Indian defence industry. Over the years, Israel’s defence companies like Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems provided crucial technology imports and started joint ventures with Indian companies for manufacturing.
The ATEMM partnership signifies an approach towards a collaborative design, adaptation, and indigenous production of defence technology in a manner that goes beyond mere importation of innovation into the subcontinent of India itself. Instead, the ATEMM partnership signifies a boost to Make in India’s efforts, transferring innovation from foreign countries into India’s manufacturing units with a resultant creation of employment opportunities. In light of such a viewpoint, such co-production agreements are increasingly important in an interconnected global defence supply chain for India.
Apart from the ATEMM project, Indian-Israeli cooperation also encompasses areas such as unmanned aerial vehicle technology, border protection technologies, AI-based security solutions, and missile collaborative development. Such collaborations not only strengthen the Indian military but also foster greater trust between these two democracies.
Essentially, these deals that bring Make in India together with Israeli innovations represent not only an end to buyer-supplier relationships, but also the beginning of an industrial partnership where India will absorb innovations, build its own capabilities, and build its defence industry.
