For much of the past two decades, India was described as an emerging power – a nation with immense promise whose greatest achievements lay ahead. That description no longer fits. Today, India is one of the world’s leading economies, a technological powerhouse and an increasingly influential diplomatic actor. The country’s transition from an emerging power to a global power is well underway, driven not only by its economic growth but also by its ability to innovate, build advanced industries and forge strategic partnerships that strengthen its position on the world stage.
Nowhere is this transformation more visible than in the defence sector, where the intersection of economy, technology and diplomacy has become a powerful engine of national growth. India’s vision extends far beyond modernising its armed forces. Through initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, it is creating an industrial ecosystem capable of designing, manufacturing and exporting world-class defence technologies. This is not simply a procurement strategy – it’s a blueprint for strategic autonomy, economic resilience and global influence.
For international partners, this shift has fundamentally changed the definition of success in India. The era of simply exporting finished products is giving way to something far more meaningful. India is seeking partners willing to transfer technology, invest in local manufacturing, develop indigenous expertise and help strengthen the country’s defence industrial base. Success is no longer measured by the number of systems delivered. It is measured by the capabilities that remain in India long after those systems enter service.
A decade ago, we established PLR Systems together with India’s Adani Group, creating the first private-sector company to manufacture small arms in India under the Make in India initiative. The objective was to build an industrial ecosystem by transferring knowledge, developing local expertise and strengthening India’s defence manufacturing capabilities
This is precisely why the relationship between India and Israel has become so significant.
Our partnership has never been purely transactional. It is rooted in shared democratic values, a common understanding of complex security challenges and a belief that technological innovation is essential to national security. Over the years, our countries have built a relationship built on trust, one that has evolved beyond procurement into genuine industrial collaboration. Together, we are demonstrating that strategic partnerships are strongest when they create value, capability and opportunity for both nations.
For SK Group, this philosophy has guided our approach from the very beginning.
A decade ago, we established PLR Systems together with India’s Adani Group, creating the first private-sector company to manufacture small arms in India under the Make in India initiative. The objective was never just to manufacture weapons locally. It was to help build an industrial ecosystem by transferring knowledge, developing local expertise and strengthening India’s long-term defence manufacturing capabilities. We believe then – as we do today – that India’s future would be defined by what it builds, not simply by what it buys.
Today, that vision is becoming reality.
This year, PLR Systems delivered the first batch of 2,000 Prahar light machine guns to the Indian Armed Forces as part of a landmark order for 41,000 systems. This marked the first delivery under one of India’s most significant indigenous small arms programmes, with thousands more scheduled to be delivered this year. Also, this year PLR was awarded a contract to supply 170,000 IWI carbines to the Indian Armed Forces, with the first 18,000 units scheduled for delivery this year.
These milestones are significant not simply because of their scale, but because they demonstrate India’s growing ability to manufacture advanced, combat-proven systems domestically while creating skilled employment, strengthening local supply chains and expanding indigenous industrial capabilities.
The same philosophy extends across SK Group’s broader defence portfolio.
Recently, the Indian Army selected Meprolight’s MEPRO X6 telescopic sight as the dedicated daytime optic for its in-service NEGEV machine guns, following an extensive multi-year evaluation. The sight was selected because it met the Army’s demanding operational requirements for reliability, accuracy and performance under some of the world’s most challenging conditions.
This year, PLR Systems delivered the first batch of 2,000 Prahar light machine guns to the Indian Armed Forces as part of a landmark order for 41,000 systems. This marked the first delivery under one of India’s most significant indigenous small arms programmes. Also, PLR was awarded a contract to supply 170,000 IWI carbines to the Indian Armed Forces, with the first 18,000 units scheduled for delivery this year
To support India’s Make in India initiative, Meprolight signed a comprehensive Transfer of Technology agreement with RRP Defense, enabling the full production of the MEPRO X6 in India. Through this partnership, manufacturing knowledge, engineering expertise and production capabilities are being transferred to Indian industry, while Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) serves as the prime contractor for deliveries to the Indian Army.
This builds on SK Group’s long-standing relationship with India’s defence and security community, where IWI’s X95 is used by Indian Special Forces and the MASADA pistol is used by the Indian Police, underscoring the confidence placed in our combat-proven technologies across a range of operational missions.
This is what successful, long-term defence partnerships should look like.
Technology transfer is a strategic investment in a nation’s future. When companies transfer knowledge rather than simply ship equipment, they help create sustainable industrial ecosystems. They empower engineers, strengthen local manufacturing, develop highly skilled workforces and enable countries to build sovereign capabilities that continue to evolve long after individual procurement programmes have concluded.
India understands this better than almost any nation.
Its ambitions extend far beyond meeting domestic defence requirements. India is positioning itself as a global centre for advanced manufacturing, innovation and defence exports. Its combination of engineering talent, industrial capacity, forward-looking government policy and entrepreneurial spirit has created one of the world’s most dynamic defence ecosystems. As new technologies – including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced optics and counter-drone capabilities – reshape the character of modern warfare, India is increasingly positioned not only to adopt these technologies, but also to help develop them.
This is where the India-Israel partnership has its greatest potential.
Both countries understand that innovation is more than a competitive advantage – it’s a strategic necessity. Together, we have an opportunity to co-develop next-generation technologies, deepen industrial cooperation and build resilient supply chains that strengthen both nations. As trusted democracies confronting many of the same security challenges, India and Israel are uniquely positioned to demonstrate how innovation, openness and long-term collaboration can deliver lasting strategic value.
India’s next chapter will be defined by what it builds, the partnerships it forges and the leadership it demonstrates on the world stage. SK Group is proud to stand alongside India on that journey – not simply as a supplier, but as a long-term partner committed to building capabilities, transferring technology and helping shape the future together
At SK Group, our commitment extends far beyond supplying advanced defence technologies. Through IWI, Meprolight, Camero-Tech and our partnerships across India, we remain committed to transferring knowledge, investing in local capabilities and supporting India’s long-term defence ambitions. We believe the strongest partnerships are those in which both sides emerge stronger than when they began.
As India celebrates its Independence Day, it does so as a nation looking confidently towards its next chapter – one defined by innovation, industrial strength and growing global leadership. The country’s rise has been built on vision, determination and an unwavering commitment to building capabilities that will shape the future.
India’s next chapter will not be defined solely by the strength of its economy or the sophistication of its technologies. It will be defined by what it builds, the partnerships it forges and the leadership it demonstrates on the world stage. SK Group is proud to stand alongside India on that journey – not simply as a supplier, but as a long-term partner committed to building capabilities, transferring technology and helping shape the future together.
Happy Independence Day. Jai Hind!
The writer is the CEO of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) - part of the SK Group, a global leader in small arms manufacturing, renowned for pioneering the iconic UZI submachine gun and for continuously redefining modern combat and civilian weaponry. He is also a Director of PLR Systems. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
