The armies of India and Israel are likely to hold the first-ever joint exercise since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1992. Even though Israel is one of the biggest weapon suppliers to India, the two countries have not carried out any joint military exercise due to political sensitivities here regarding ties with Israel.

According to sources, the elite Special Forces of the two countries are likely to take part in a joint exercise after the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation from the two sides finalises the dates and venue. The JWG has officers from Ministries of Defence, External Affairs and Indian Army and their counterparts from Israel.

Sources told The Pioneer, that the schedule will be drawn up through an established mechanism between India and Israel to further strengthen Defence ties. “Surely, the issue of having joint exercise will be touched upon through established mechanism in the near future. The JWG will decide the dates,” sources said.

This comes at a time when President Pranab Mukherjee becomes the first Indian Head of State to visit Israel later this week followed by likely visits of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi next year. No Indian Defence Minister or Prime Minister has paid an official visit to Israel. Incidentally, Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit New Delhi in 2003. However, he had to cut short his visit due to a terrorist strike back home.

The proposed exercise will bring Defence ties between the two countries out of the closet though Israel is the third-biggest weapon supplier to India. Israel rushed weapons and equipment during the Kargil War in 1999 when the Indian forces were facing acute shortage of specialised equipment.

However, the two countries, so far, have preferred to keep these relations low profile given political opposition within India over the last many years since diplomatic relations were established.   In February this year, Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon visited India.

Israel and India collaborate closely in combating terrorism with Mossad and other agencies working with the Indian Intelligence agencies on a regular basis.  However, these ties are rarely mentioned in public domain.  Joint exercises between the militaries of the two countries will send a signal that India and Israel are taking their strategic and Defence ties to a new level, sources said.

While the idea of having joint exercises have taken more than two decades to fructify, the Israeli Defence industry has strengthened its relations with the Indian industry, be it private or public, besides the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).  In fact, Israel is collaborating with DRDO in almost all strategic projects including Agni missile system. 

Rated as the best in the world in manufacturing hi-tech equipment ranging from avionics to electronic warfare, the Israeli industry is cooperating with India in nearly all spheres of Defence manufacturing. This cooperation ranges from upgrading warships and their communication systems and fighter jets.  

They have also supplied Barak missiles for the Navy, surveillance equipment including thermal imagers for the Army for the 750-km-long anti-infiltration fence along the line of Control, small arms like rifles to the Army and para-military forces.  The Defence Ministry recently announced its intention to buy Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missile over American Javelin.

Out in the open

o Even though Israel is one of the biggest weapon suppliers to India, the two countries have not carried out any joint military exercise due to political sensitivities here regarding ties with Israel

o This comes at a time when President Pranab Mukherjee becomes the first Indian Head of State to visit Israel later this week followed by likely visits of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi next year

o Israel and India collaborate closely in combating terrorism with Mossad and other agencies working with the Indian Intelligence agencies on a regular basis

o However, these ties are rarely mentioned in public domain. Joint exercises between the militaries of the two countries will send a signal that India and Israel are taking their strategic and Defence ties to a new level, sources said