Israeli joint venture wins huge Indian army rifle deal

The Indian Military is procuring 425,000 CQB carbine assault rifles from PLR Programs, a three way partnership between Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) managed by Samy Katsav via the SK Group holding firm, and Adani Company, the proprietor of Haifa Port. The deal contains the acquisition of rifles for about $3.3 billion from the identical three way partnership and Bharat Forge. Supply will start in September 2026 and finish by 2028.

The division of the deal between the businesses contains 40% (about $1.32 billion) of the deal quantity for the Katsav-Adani three way partnership and about 60% for Bharat Forge. It is a large deal even in Indian phrases, stemming from a requirement made by the Indian Ministry of Protection in Delhi for the acquisition of about 425,000 new 5.56 mm rifles. Dr. Lauren Dagan Amos, a researcher on India’s overseas and safety coverage at Bar-Ilan College and a member of the Deborah Discussion board, says that the deal is throughout the framework of the Make in India program, which implies: the product have to be designed and manufactured in India, with a minimum of 50% native content material (or 60% if not designed regionally). “It is a clear expression of the self-reliance coverage in safety, which is being led by the Narendra Modi authorities below applications reminiscent of Make in India and iDEX,” explains Dagan Amos. “The deal additionally illustrates Indian-Israeli cooperation within the protection area.”

Israel’s primary export vacation spot

India, in line with the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute (SIPRI), was Israel’s primary protection export vacation spot between 2020 and 2024, with about 34% of protection exports offered there. Through the struggle, ships transported weapons from India to Israel, whereas for years many Israeli firms, together with Elbit Programs and Israel Aerospace Industries, have been working manufacturing infrastructures in India.

Experiences in India point out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his authorities are desirous about procuring Israeli weapons methods that they don’t presently have. For instance, India is desirous about buying LORA missiles from IAI. India’s curiosity in IAI missiles stems from an escalation of tensions with Pakistan. In skirmishes in Could, Rampage air-to-ground missiles hit Pakistani air power bases. These missiles are collectively produced by Elbit’s IMI unit, IAI’s MLM plant, and Tomer. India now realizes it wants exact air-to-ground missiles for lengthy ranges and is subsequently desirous about LORA missiles.

Rampage has a variety of about 250 kilometers, and the Indian Air Pressure makes use of it on Sukhoi 30 and MiG 29 plane. It is rather correct, however its vary is about 150-250 kilometers, which places Indian fighter jets in danger towards Pakistani protection methods made in China. In distinction, LORA has a variety of about 400 kilometers, and with it fighter jets can hit targets with out endangering themselves from superior air protection methods.

LORA, developed at IAI’s MLM plant, is designed to hit missile websites, navy bases and air protection methods, with out endangering pilots and plane. The missile weighs about 1,600 kilograms flies at supersonic velocity, and makes use of satellite tv for pc navigation that is protected against jamming. One in every of its most notable benefits is the “launch and neglect” technique, which means it’s launched to the goal and doesn’t should be guided alongside the way in which. Its warheads are various and may be designed to hit smooth targets or bunkers. With a variety of about 400 kilometers and a strike radius of solely about ten meters, it’s anticipated to permit India to hit any Pakistani base.

Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on October 23, 2025.

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