A high-level delegation representing the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force recently conducted a crucial visit to the headquarters of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), marking a significant step in India’s ongoing efforts to boost its long-range strike capabilities.

The primary focus of this visit was to evaluate IAI’s portfolio of advanced long-range stand-off weapons (SOWs) and precision-strike missile systems, which are considered critical to enhancing India’s air power and strategic deterrence.

This initiative comes on the back of the Indian Defence Acquisition Council’s 2023 approval for the procurement of a long-range stand-off weapon for the Indian Air Force, with planned integration onto the fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft—the backbone of India’s frontline strike capability.

The visit provided the Indian delegation an opportunity to study key systems offered by IAI, particularly next-generation precision stand-off strike weapons such as the Sea Breaker missile system, which is designed for long-range, autonomous, precision-guided operations against high-value and well-protected targets.

The Sea Breaker, with its capability to strike both land and maritime targets across ranges often quoted at over 250 kilometres, brings to the table enhanced survivability, flexible mission planning, and advanced warhead penetration capabilities.

For India, such weapons are particularly relevant in the context of evolving regional threats, including anti-access/area denial systems and the need for non-intrusive, deep-strike options against adversaries.

From a strategic perspective, the delegation’s visit underscores an ongoing shift in India’s defence modernisation program, one that builds upon international partnerships to secure cutting-edge technologies while simultaneously strengthening diplomatic and industrial ties.

India and Israel’s defence cooperation has been growing steadily for decades, with Israel supplying India with a range of high-tech systems such as UAVs, surface-to-air missile systems (Barak series), surveillance equipment, and electronic warfare solutions.

This latest focus on long-range stand-off strike weapons represents a step beyond traditional technology-sharing arrangements, signalling India’s intent to directly procure specialised offensive systems to plug operational gaps while maintaining an edge over regional adversaries.

For the Air Force, the integration of such weapons onto the Su-30MKI aircraft is particularly significant. The Su-30MKI, with its long operational radius, versatility, and payload capacity, is ideally suited to serve as a launch platform for long-range stand-off weapons.

Equipping the aircraft with advanced IAI systems would dramatically expand its strike envelope, allowing it to neutralise high-value enemy targets without entering contested airspace or exposing pilots to advanced air defence systems. This capability holds considerable importance for both western and northern operational theatres, where the ability to conduct precision strikes deep into hostile territory is a core requirement for deterrence and rapid escalation control.

The implications for India’s defence inventory are substantial. By evaluating and potentially acquiring long-range stand-off weapons from Israel, India would be filling a critical gap in its current strike options, complementing existing systems sourced from Russia and domestically developed platforms.

This diversification not only strengthens overall operational flexibility but also ensures that India’s arsenal remains resilient to supply-chain disruptions or political constraints from any single external supplier.

For Israel, the partnership not only deepens its status as a trusted defence partner of India but also creates avenues for future collaboration, such as co-development projects, technology transfer, and customised solutions that address India’s unique operational requirements.

In the broader geopolitical context, this move aligns with India’s long-term strategy of maintaining robust deterrence postures in a security environment defined by rapid modernisation of adversarial forces in the region.

Both China and Pakistan have been investing aggressively in precision-guided and long-range missile technologies, prompting India to accelerate its acquisition of comparable—and superior—capabilities.

The sustained engagement with IAI also highlights India’s recognition of Israel’s proven abilities in precision strike and missile technology, areas where Indian domestic programmes are still under development or transitioning into advanced stages of trials.

The visit by the tri-services delegation to IAI’s headquarters symbolises more than just an evaluation of specific weapons—it is a reflection of India’s intent to modernise its strike capability, maintain credible deterrence in an evolving threat environment, and solidify one of its most dependable strategic partnerships.

The possible induction of advanced Israeli long-range stand-off weapons into the Su-30MKI fleet will not only elevate the combat potential of the Indian Air Force but will also reinforce the military synergy and trust built between India and Israel over decades.

This is expected to pave the way for further collaboration across domains such as missile technology, electronic warfare, and combat drones, positioning the India–Israel partnership as a critical pillar in shaping the future of India’s military modernisation.

A comparative capability assessment in tabular format between Israeli stand-off weapons (like IAI’s Sea Breaker) and India’s existing or upcoming indigenous/existing systems such as the BrahMos-A and Rudram series. This will help place potential acquisitions in clearer perspective.

ParameterIAI Sea Breaker (Israel)BrahMos-A (India/Russia JV)Rudram-2 / Rudram-3 (Indigenous DRDO)
TypeNext-gen long-range autonomous precision strike weaponSupersonic cruise missile (air-launched variant)Air-to-surface Anti-Radiation Missile (extended to precision strike roles in Rudram-2/3)
Primary RolePrecision strike against land and maritime high-value targetsAnti-ship / land attack cruise missileSEAD/DEAD (Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defences); strike roles in later versions
Range~250+ km (reported)~400+ km (newer BrahMos-A variants extend further)Rudram-2: ~350 km; Rudram-3: ~550–600 km (developmental)
SpeedSubsonic (high survivability with terrain-following, evasive manoeuvres, AI-guidance)Supersonic (Mach 2.8–3.0)Supersonic (Mach 2–3, depending on variant)
Guidance SystemMulti-spectral seeker (EO/IR + advanced AI for autonomous target acquisition and navigation), GPS/INSInertial Navigation + GPS/GLONASS, Active radar homing in terminal phaseINS-GPS + passive/active seeker (emphasis on radar-homing for air defence suppression)
Warhead250 lb class advanced penetration/fragmentation warhead200–300 kg High-Explosive or specialised warheads150–200 kg conventional high-explosive penetrating warhead
Launch Platform (Indian Focus)Possible integration with Su-30MKI, potentially naval platformsAlready integrated with Su-30MKITo be integrated with Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000, and future Indian fighters
Strike EnvelopeSubsonic but stealthy, difficult to intercept; optimised for precision standoff strikeSupersonic, designed for defeating warships and hardened land targets with massive kinetic energySpecialised for eliminating enemy air defence radars and enabling broader strike missions
Operational StatusExport-ready (offered to India, tested with various air/sea platforms internationally)In service with Indian Air Force (Su-30MKI-launched BrahMos operational since 2020)Rudram-1 inducted (~2022 for SEAD); Rudram-2 and 3 in advanced development/trials
Key StrengthsAI-enabled target recognition, flexible targeting, stealthy low-level flight, anti-jamming resilienceExtremely high speed (supersonic), lethal against naval and hardened land targets, already operationalIndigenous, tailored for India’s needs, versatile anti-radiation + strike roles, future long-range growth potential
Key LimitationsSubsonic speed (slower than BrahMos or Rudram); relatively smaller warheadLarge size/weight (limited carriage: 1 missile per Su-30MKI in belly station for most configs)Not yet fully operational in Rudram-2/3 variants, technology maturing

IDN (With Agency Inputs)