Page 14 - The Indian EYE 032026

OPINION MARCH 20, 2026 | The Indian Eye 14

ners active in the area of AD systems India’s first indigenously made Radar DRDO, along with the Chief of In- System (IACCS), along with Akash-
include the European Airbus (plat- Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) was pre- tegrated Defense Staff, to Chairman, teer and Indian Maritime Situational
form support for DRDO’s ‘Netra MK ceded by RISAT-2, which featured an Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), Awareness System (IMSAS), lays the
II AWACS’), Almaz-Antey through Israeli-origin X-band Synthetic Aper- HQ Integrated Defense Staff (IDS). foundation, blueprints for further
S-400 MRO facilities, air defense ture Radar (SAR). The ISRO–Israel The role of DRDO in steering the upgradations are being planned to
missile systems, radars and automat- Space Agency (ISA) partnership un- Mission’s technological roadmap was achieve time-bound targets.
ed control systems, Kalyani Strategic der the elevated partnership enables reinforced in the Raksha Mantri’s With Israel’s already well-estab-
Systems JV with Israel Aerospace the combination of complementary address on DRDO Day. As has been lished presence in these sectors, the
Industries (IAI) for indigenous pro- capabilities in payloads and heavy- elucidated earlier, building the Mis- renewed cooperation significantly en-
duction of Medium Range Surface- lift launch for both countries. These sion Sudarshan Chakra goes beyond ergizes indigenous industrial efforts.
to-Air Missile (MR-SAM), Defense acquisitions and co-developments airborne fighter interceptors, ground- Sudarshan Chakra was conceived as a
Research and Development Orga- indicate not just crucial and timely as- based SAMs, radars and Counter Un- national mission blending indigenous
nization (DRDO) and Safran deal sistance from Israeli technology in de- manned Aerial System (CUAS) grids. innovation with selective partnerships,
for co-development of 120–140 Kn veloping India’s indigenous R&D and It involves enhancement of the entire such as “Make in India projects, im-
thrust engine for Advanced Medium industrial ecosystems, but also lay the constellation of aerial vectors—Long ports and IDDM programmes”. Isra-
Combat Aircraft (AMCA), MBDA groundwork for further complemen- range air-launched missiles, UAVs, el’s innovative niche technologies and
for missiles and related technology tarity of capabilities. Airborne Warning and Control Sys- battle-proven systems complement
development, Swedish company Saab tem (AWACS), Satellites, Anti-Sat- India’s industrial manufacturing ca-
for Giraffe radars via L&T, Thales– The Way Ahead ellite (ASAT) capabilities, to name a pacity and entrepreneurial and talent
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) Progress on Mission Sudar- few—along with cyber offensive sys- competencies. The bilateral defense
collaboration for radars, including shan Chakra was made public on 29 tems, hardening of defenses and AI cooperation of almost three decades
Airborne Interceptor radars for fight- November 2025, with project con- integration. While the indigenous In- has delivered credible outcomes in
ers, etc. tours drawn up under the Chairman, tegrated Air Command and Control each conflict/standoff since Kargil.
What Does Israel Contribute? Conclusion
In this context, if one were to It was Operation Sindoor that led
study areas specific to Mission Sudar- to India’s leadership announcing Mis-
shan Chakra, Israel and its companies sion Sudarshan Chakra. The ongoing
have invested in India through direct global conflicts accentuate the Mis-
acquisitions and partnerships for a sion imperatives, each day bringing
host of defensive and offensive capa- newer challenges. Based on India’s re-
bilities. Amongst the earliest systems quirements and Israel’s battle-tested
supplied were the Heron and Search- capabilities, this renewed partnership
er Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has the potential to be a strategic cat-
and Litening electro-optical targeting alyst for India’s decade-long Mission
pods, enabling laser-guided bombs for by substantially, if not completely,
the Mirage2000 aircraft. Both deliver- expanding the relevant technology/
ies hastened India’s advantage in the systems base and production at scale.
Kargil War. Since then, the Litening Israel is also among the few militaries
pod has been made “substantially in that executed a near-perfect multi-do-
India” with Defsys, a Rafael partner. main offensive in 2025, Operation
To achieve a significant enhance- Rising Lion, combining cognitive,
ment of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) electronic warfare and special oper-
long-range offensive capability, In- ations with airpower. Though not ar-
dia had inducted IAI-manufactured ticulated, it can be suggested that this
Rampage air-to-surface missiles in partnership also brings in this opera-
2024 on its Su-30 MKI platforms, tional wisdom.
along with MiG-29 and Jaguar fight- In summary, Israel brings bat-
ers. Following their validation in Op- tle-tested expertise to make the Su-
eration Sindoor, it was reported that darshan Chakra more effective—a
additional orders were underway, system that not only defends but also
alongside consideration of joint do- enables precise retaliation and ad-
mestic production under the ‘Make vances India’s strategic autonomy.
in India’ initiative. News reports from
January 2026 indicate further acqui- The author is a Research Fellow at Mano-
sition of SPICE-1000 precision-guid- har Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies
ance kits, additional Rampage mis- and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi.
siles, AIR LORA ALBM, and the
Ice Breaker stand-off air-to-surface Views expressed are of the author and
do not necessarily reflect the views of
missile, among other systems, vide the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) Government of India.
approvals in December 2025. The Ice
Breaker series has already found an The full version of this article first
industrial base in India, with Bharat appeared in the Comments section of
Dynamics Limited (BDL) signing a In the space sector, the launch of India’s first indigenously made Radar Imaging the website (www.idsa.in) of Mano-
MoU with Rafael Advanced Defense Satellite (RISAT-1) was preceded by RISAT-2, which featured an Israeli-origin X-band Synthetic har Parrikar Institute for Defense
Systems to support its production. Aperture Radar (ISRO File Photo) Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, on
In the space sector, the launch of March 9, 2026

www.TheIndianEYE.com