2,500 Arms Shipments: Report Reveals Unknown Side of Israel-India Relations
A new Amnesty International report reveals that between October 2023 and November 2025, at least 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition, and components were transferred from India to Israel.
The discussion on the security relationship between Israel and India usually focuses on the scope of Israeli exports. However, a new report by Amnesty International reveals a new picture, showing that no fewer than 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition, parts, and components were transferred from India to Israel between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025.
The roots of these supplies lie in the activities of Israeli defense companies, led by Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Rafael, which have adapted to the 'Make in India' policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This policy aims to increase local independence, with New Delhi tightening self-reliance requirements to a threshold of at least 50% local production.
This status has not harmed India's position as the most prominent client of the Israeli defense industries. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that about 29% of defense exports in 2021-2025 went to India, which retained the top spot despite the massive deal to sell the Arrow 3 system to Germany for about $3.5 billion.
What did the arms shipments from India to Israel include?
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564,000 explosive ammunition components
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390,000 small arms parts
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298 military vehicle parts
Data from SIBAT, the International Defense Cooperation Directorate at the Ministry of Defense, shows that total Israeli defense exports in those years amounted to about $71 billion. India imported defense goods from Israel totaling about $20.6 billion, while Germany accounted for $14.9 billion and the USA for $5.5 billion. The report sheds light on the reciprocity in the relationship, where the transfer of knowledge and production capacity from Israel is used for risk spreading.
From India to the Mediterranean
The central figure leading this relationship is the Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Major General (res.) Eyal Zamir. Last June, he conducted a working visit to India. At the Herzliya Conference, he explained:
"The war has sharpened for all parties in the region the price of Iranian buildup. It has created a commonality of interests for forming a broader alliance - from India, through the UAE, to Greece and Cyprus."
How Israeli defense companies operate in India
Amnesty identified Israeli customers of the shipments, led by Elbit, which received 155mm shells and warheads for the Skystriker, a loitering munition used extensively by the IDF. These are produced in Bangalore by Alpha Design, a subsidiary of the Adani corporation, under an Elbit license.
Simultaneously, IWI (Israel Weapon Industries) manages a joint venture with the Adani corporation. Their venture, PLR Systems, won a massive tender last October for the purchase of rifles for about $3.3 billion. Furthermore, IAI founded the subsidiary Aerospace Services India (ASI) in 2024, and Rafael reportedly intends to establish production lines for 'Tamir' interceptors in India to ensure supply chain security.
Shipments continue
Amnesty's analysis notes that despite embargo measures taken by various countries, Israel continues to receive arms. The organization criticized India for "critical structural failures" in compliance with international standards, including "the lack of an explicit requirement for human rights due diligence," noting that India has not joined the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty.
