Between October 2023 and November 2025, India significantly increased its arms shipments to Israel, sending a total of 2,596 consignments that included weapons, ammunition, and military vehicle parts, according to a recent report. This development highlights a lesser-known facet of the defense relationship between the two countries, which has traditionally emphasized Israeli arms exports to India.

The surge in Indian arms supplies is linked to Israeli defense firms such as Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Rafael adapting to India’s “Made in India” policy. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this initiative promotes domestic manufacturing and requires up to 50% local content in defense procurements to enhance India’s self-reliance. Despite these localization efforts, India remains the leading customer for Israeli defense exports, accounting for approximately 29% of Israel’s defense sales between 2021 and 2025, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Germany is Israel’s second-largest defense market, receiving around 21% of exports in that period. Israel’s overall defense exports during these years amounted to $71 billion, per figures from Israel’s Defense Ministry.

Israeli Defense Ministry Director-General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram has been a central figure in deepening defense ties with India. During his visit to India last June, Baram met with senior defense officials, including the Indian defense minister and secretary of defense. At a subsequent conference in Herzliya, Baram outlined how regional dynamics shaped by Iranian influence have motivated a broader alliance encompassing countries such as India, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, and Cyprus. Each of these nations has solid defense partnerships with Israel—evidenced by recent arms deals like Israel’s delivery of Iron Dome air defense systems to the UAE and Greece’s multi-billion euro procurement of Israeli air defense technology.

The shipments from India to Israel during the reported period included nearly 391,000 small arms parts, more than 560,000 explosive ammunition components (such as drone warheads and artillery shell casings), and close to 300 military vehicle parts. These figures exclude civilian-use items and air defense system components, focusing strictly on military-grade materials based on international customs classifications. Notably, Elbit Systems in Israel was a recipient of some of these Indian supplies, notably artillery shells and warheads used for loitering munitions operational with the Israel Defense Forces.

Human rights advocacy groups have criticized India’s arms export controls, asserting that the country lacks sufficient legal requirements for human rights due diligence in its defense trade. India abstained from voting on the Arms Trade Treaty in 2013 and has not ratified it, reportedly to preserve flexibility in sourcing military equipment. SIPRI data corroborates this strategy, showing India as the world’s second-largest arms importer from 2021 to 2025, with major suppliers including Russia (40%), France (29%), and Israel (15%).

The report also highlights that Israel continues to receive arms shipments despite international embargoes or restrictions imposed by some countries. While arms deliveries from nations such as the United States and Germany persisted, the report notes that transfers have occasionally passed through third countries like Slovenia and France, despite some European governments maintaining critical policies toward Israel’s defense sector.

This evolving dynamic underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of international arms trade, particularly amid shifting geopolitical alliances and regional security concerns in the Middle East and South Asia.