Report: India expands major arms purchases from Israel in $8.6 billion deals

India is deepening its defense partnership with Israel through a new series of arms agreements valued at approximately $8.6 billion, according to reporting by Forbes India. 

The move further reinforces New Delhi’s position as the leading foreign customer of Israel’s defense industry, at a time of intensifying regional military competition.

Over the past several years, India has emerged as Israel’s most significant defense client. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicate that between 2020 and 2024, India accounted for roughly 34% of Israel’s total arms exports. 

During that period, Israel’s overall defense exports reached approximately $60.3 billion, with Indian purchases estimated at around $20.5 billion.

The latest package of agreements, reportedly totaling $8.6 billion since the beginning of 2026, would rank among India’s largest defense procurement efforts ever. 

For comparison, India’s 2016 purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France was valued at $8.7 billion. More recently, New Delhi finalized an additional deal for 114 Rafale aircraft and accompanying missiles in a contract worth nearly $39.7 billion.

Precision-Guided Munitions at the Core

A substantial portion of the new Israeli contracts centers on advanced precision-guided munitions.

One key component is the SPICE 1000 guidance kit, developed by Rafael. SPICE (Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective) is a family of autonomous air-to-ground weapon systems designed to convert conventional bombs into highly accurate precision munitions. 

The SPICE 1000 variant, weighing roughly 500 kilograms, is capable of striking targets at ranges of up to 100 kilometers.

A distinguishing feature of the SPICE system is its ability to operate without reliance on GPS. Instead, it uses an electro-optical seeker combined with advanced image-matching algorithms to compare a stored image of the target with real-time visuals. 

This allows for highly accurate strikes, reportedly with a margin of error of less than three meters.

Extended-Range Strike Capabilities

Other systems included in the reported procurement are the Rampage missile and the Air LORA missile.

The Rampage missile, developed by Elbit Systems in cooperation with Israel Military Industries (Tomer), has an operational range of approximately 150 to 250 kilometers. 

It is already integrated into India’s Sukhoi-30 and MiG-29 aircraft. While known for its accuracy, its shorter range may expose aircraft to advanced air defense systems during certain missions.

By contrast, the Air LORA (Long-Range Artillery) missile—developed by Israel Aerospace Industries’ MLM division—offers a significantly extended range of about 400 kilometers. 

This enables aircraft to strike high-value targets such as missile sites, military bases, and air defense systems without entering heavily defended airspace.

The Air LORA missile weighs around 1,600 kilograms, travels at supersonic speed, and uses satellite navigation systems designed to resist jamming. 

It operates on a “fire-and-forget” principle, requiring no further guidance once launched. The missile can be equipped with various types of warheads, including those designed to penetrate fortified or underground targets. 

With a reported accuracy radius of roughly ten meters, it enhances India’s ability to conduct long-range precision strikes.

Another system reportedly part of the procurement is Rafael’s Ice Breaker missile. Designed for long-range strikes—up to approximately 300 kilometers—against both land and maritime targets, the missile is intended to operate effectively in adverse weather conditions and in environments saturated with electronic warfare.

The Ice Breaker uses imaging infrared (IIR) guidance supported by artificial intelligence-based target recognition. This enables the missile to autonomously detect and identify targets with a high degree of reliability.

India’s continued investment in advanced Israeli weaponry reflects its broader effort to modernize its armed forces and expand long-range strike capabilities amid shifting regional dynamics. 

As defense spending rises across South Asia, the strengthening of Israeli-Indian military cooperation underscores the growing strategic alignment between the two countries.