SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
What Was Signed, What It Means, and Why China and Pakistan Are Worried
India and Israel have been close partners for many years, but their relationship has grown much stronger in recent times. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel in 2017, he
became the first Indian Prime Minister ever to do so. Now, in February 2026, he has visited again — and this time, the two countries have signed one of the biggest and most important defence agreements in India’s history. This is not just about buying weapons. It is about
building a shield around India that its enemies will find very hard to break through.
What Has India Actually Signed?
The deal is worth around $10 billion and covers both defensive and offensive systems. What makes this deal truly special is that Israel is not just selling India weapons — it is sharing the
technology so that India can build many of these systems inside India itself. This kind of trust is very rare. Israel has only ever offered this level of cooperation to a small number of countries.
The Shield: Protecting India from Attack
The defensive side of the deal is like building multiple layers of protection over India. Think of
it like an umbrella with several layers, each catching different threats at different heights.
The first layer is the Iron Dome. Most people have seen images of this system working in Israel, shooting down rockets mid-air before they land. It can intercept short-range threats like
rockets and drones that are between 4 and 70 kilometres away. Pakistan has increasingly used drones in its military strategy, and the Iron Dome is designed to stop exactly this kind of
attack.
The second layer is the Iron Beam — perhaps the most exciting new technology in this deal. It
is a powerful laser weapon that can shoot down drones, rockets, and even artillery shells at the speed of light. What makes it revolutionary is cost. Each laser shot costs only about two
dollars, compared to thousands of dollars for a traditional missile interceptor. This means India could defend itself against hundreds or thousands of incoming threats without running out of ammunition. It truly is a weapon for the future.
The third and fourth layers are David’s Sling and the Arrow system. David’s Sling handles medium-range missiles — the kind Pakistan might fire from further away. The Arrow system
deals with long-range ballistic missiles, the kind that China might use. Together, these four
systems create a nearly complete defence umbrella over India’s skies.
All of this fits into India’s national plan, sometimes called Mission Sudarshan Chakra or Project Kusha, which aims to build a complete air defence network by 2030.
The Sword: India’s New Striking Power
The deal is not just about defence. India is also getting powerful new weapons to strike back if needed. These include precision-guided bombs that can hit targets very accurately from the
air, and advanced missiles that can be fired from fighter jets deep into enemy territory.
The most alarming of these for India’s rivals is the Golden Horizon missile. This is a hypersonic weapon, meaning it travels at five times the speed of sound — so fast that almost
no existing defence system can intercept it. It has a range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometres and can destroy underground bunkers and heavily fortified military bases. If integrated into India’s
Sukhoi-30 fighter jets as planned, it would give India a deep-strike capability that neither Pakistan nor China currently has a reliable answer to.
Why Pakistan Should Be Worried
Pakistan’s military has increasingly relied on drones and short-range missiles as key parts of its strategy. We saw this in May 2025, when Pakistan used drones during a clash with India.
The Iron Dome and Iron Beam systems are built specifically to destroy exactly these kinds of threats — cheaply, quickly, and in large numbers.
Beyond defence, the Golden Horizon missile means India can now strike deep inside Pakistan with a weapon that Pakistan has no way to shoot down. This changes the balance of power in South Asia significantly. For years, Pakistan’s nuclear weapons have acted as a deterrent —
a warning that any Indian attack would lead to devastating consequences. But with India building an almost impenetrable air shield and gaining new precision strike weapons, Pakistan
finds its options shrinking.
Why China Should Be Worried
China poses a different kind of threat to India — larger, more technologically advanced, and
with a far bigger missile arsenal. But this deal addresses that too. The Arrow missile defence
system is built to shoot down long-range ballistic missiles at very high altitudes. China has invested heavily in ballistic missiles as part of its military strategy, particularly along the
Himalayan border with India. The Arrow system directly challenges that advantage.
The Golden Horizon missile is also significant for China. With a range of up to 2,000
kilometres, it could reach Chinese military bases in Tibet and Yunnan province from inside
Indian territory. This means India gains the ability to threaten key Chinese military infrastructure that previously felt safe from Indian air power.
China also understands the broader message: India is building alliances. Israel, which has
one of the most advanced defence industries in the world, is now deeply tied to India’s
security. This is part of a growing web of partnerships that includes the United States, France,
and other democracies who share concerns about China’s growing military ambitions.
More Than Just Weapons
What makes this deal truly significant is the technology transfer. India is not just buying
finished weapons — it is learning how to build them. Systems like the Iron Dome and Iron
Beam will eventually be manufactured in India, creating jobs and building India’s own defence
industry. This is part of Prime Minister Modi’s broader ‘Make in India’ vision, where India
becomes self-sufficient in defence and does not have to depend on foreign suppliers in times
of conflict.
India also signed agreements around artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum
computing — areas that will shape warfare in the coming decades. These are not just
weapons deals; they are investments in India’s technological future.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in India’s Security
The India-Israel defence deal signed during Prime Minister Modi’s 2026 visit is one of the most consequential military agreements India has ever entered into. It gives India a layered
shield against aerial attack, powerful new offensive weapons, and access to cutting-edge technology.
For Pakistan, it neutralises the drone and missile strategy it has been developing.
For China, it introduces new risks along the Himalayan border and signals that India is building the kind of alliances that can match China’s growing power.
India’s goal is clear: by 2030, it wants to be a country that is extremely hard to attack and capable of striking back with precision and power. With this deal, that goal has come a very
big step closer.
References
1.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/25/indias-modi-addresses-israeli-parliament-on-first-day-of-visit
2.https://zeenews.india.com/world//modi-israel-visit-iron-dome-iron-beam-iron-beam-tech-transfer-alliance-2026-3020816.html
3.https://organiser.org/2026/02/24/341603/bharat/israel-offers-iron-dome-technology-to-india-proposes-new-defence-axis-ahead-of-pm-modis-visit/
4.https://www.indiatvnews.com/explainers/how-israel-s-iron-dome-could-be-a-game-changer-for-india-s-mission-sudarshan-chakra-explained-2026-02-26-1031740
5.https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/israel-open-to-share-iron-dome-technology-with-india-how-it-works-517898-2026-02-25
6.https://www.republicworld.com/business/india-eyes-iron-dome-tech-as-part-of-10-billion-defence-pact-with-israel
7.https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/india-s-modi-lands-in-israel-to-strengthen-cooperation-2-1.500455158
