Raksha Anirveda (RA): Golan, kindly provide a little history of Meprolight and its vision for the future.
Golan Kalimi (GK): Meprolight was founded in 1990 as a division of the SK Group, the company emerged from the practical needs of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to provide reliable, combat-proven sighting solutions for small arms and infantry platforms.
The company operates across three primary technology domains: passive self-illuminated sights (using tritium or fiber-optics), active reflex and holographic sights, and thermal/night-vision imaging devices. Meprolight products are standard issue for the IDF and elite units like YAMAM, and the company exports to over 134 countries including India, serving military, law enforcement, and commercial markets globally.
Meprolight maintains strict quality control aligned with ISO 9001:2015 and MIL-STD standards, emphasising durability and brightness. The company partners with major weapons manufacturers like Glock, Sig Sauer, and HK, positioning its optics as factory original-equipment and aftermarket upgrades.
About the future, of course we are working on some new products, coming over in next one to two years and we are focussed on introducing some new smart technology for weapons and other devices.
RA: What are Meprolight’s expansion plans, and do they include India?
GK: India is one of our strategic, niche markets. Our plans for India include introducing some of the advance products, besides establishing an assembly line in about next three years. We are already leading several transfer of technology programmes to RRP Defense, an Indian company, as part of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, for products such as rifle sights, laser sights etc.
India is one of our strategic, niche markets. Our plans for India include introducing some of the advance products, besides establishing an assembly line in about next three years. We are already leading several transfer of technology programmes to RRP Defense, an Indian company, as part of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, for products such as rifle sights, laser sights etc
For MEPRO X6, we have signed a comprehensive Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with RRP Defense to supply to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). This three-way partnership with Indian public and private defence entities will definitely shape-up Meprolight’s long-term business plans for India.
As far as the rest of the world is concerned, we supply to many countries or armies in Central America and South America, Europe and Asia, but most of them due to quality being maintained, insist on establishing manufacturing base in their countries, and we try to accommodate this request as much as possible.
RA: How would you describe your experience of MEPRO X6 being selected by the Indian Army?
GK: The Indian Army subjected the MEPRO X6 to a multi-year, rigorous environmental testing process before selecting it as the dedicated daytime optic for their NEGEV machine guns.
Usually, a sub-machine gun offers a you a sight of around 300 metres but we have been focused on upgrading that sight up to 800 metres, this means that the soldier is also better equipped to search for his target and also ensure his own safety in a hostile environment, precisely and confidently. Meprolight focused on increasing this sighting capacity from 100 to 800 metres. Indian soldiers operate in a diverse set of demanding border conditions varying from snow-clad mountains to deserts; thus, our products are equipped to support them well in such adverse weather conditions.
Indo-Israel defence ties are moving ahead in a positive direction. Not just Meprolight but even other Israeli defence suppliers and manufacturers have an expanding business relationship with India, and it is a good sign. Our sister company, IWI was recently awarded several contracts that it will manufacture through its subsidiary in India
RA: In what manner Meprolight ensures quality standards for its products?
GK: Meprolight manufactures Electro-optical and Optical sights, Night Vision devices, Uncooled Thermal Weapon sights, Self-illuminated Night sights, Laser rangefinder, Handheld rangefinder, and Fire control systems. Meprolight products, being state-of-the-art, meet worldwide military standards – MIL-STD 810, MIL-STD 704, NATO standards and more. Meprolight production processes comply with ISO9001 (quality management system). All products and processes in Meprolight are performed, controlled and monitored up to these demanding quality criteria.
RA: How do you see the burgeoning Indo-Israel defence ties, particularly in the defence sector?
GK: Indo-Israel defence ties are moving ahead in a positive direction. Not just Meprolight but even other Israeli defence suppliers and manufacturers have an expanding business relationship with India, and it is a good sign. Our sister company, IWI was recently awarded several contracts that it will manufacture through its subsidiary in India.
-The writer is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on international and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily carry the views of Raksha Anirveda
