SESSION-2 : INDIA-ISRAEL E-CONNECT

PCRI Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of India-Israel Diplomatic Relations

PCRI conducted “India-Israel E-Connect: Exploring Partnership, Possibilities & Potential”

Session 2: Marking the Three Pillars of Technology Upgradation, Defence Cooperation & Closer Partnership Building in the New Dawn of the Millennium

PCRI conducted “India-Israel E-Connect: Exploring Partnership, Possibilities & Potential” successfully today at the advent of 30 years of the India-Israel Diplomatic Ties. The event was graced with the arrival of Lt. Gen. Vinod Bhatia, PVSM, AVSM, SM, Former DGMO, Indian Army and Dr. Bharat Bose, Defense Expert who were the speakers of the session and Maj. Gen. Rajan Kochhar, VSM, Former MGAOC, Central Command, Indian Army, who was the chairperson of this session.

Maj. Gen. Kochhar started the proceedings with describing the India-Israel relations and the contribution of Israel in the sector of defense of India. He brought out that Israel was the third largest supplier of military equipments after the US and Russia. He also noted that both the countries have coordination in the fields of intelligence sharing, joint military training, and high tech products in space, defense and security. Both the nations have a joint committee on science and technology, operational collaboration in cyber security, and have an agreement on homeland and public security along with a host of other agreements as well. Both the nations have jointly developed the medium range Surface-to-Air Missile system Barak-8 which is inducted into the Air Force.

He gave an account of the increased defense collaboration between the armed forces of countries, such as the Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missile, the Spice Guidance Kits, the Heron and Searcher Drones, the Falcon AVACs, etc. This has enhanced our capabilities tremendously in the Line of Actual Control. The Indian Air Force and Army regularly joins the Blue Flag Military Exercises between the countries. India is serving as a massive market for defense industry. The country has defense corridors and Israel today provides about 40% of its annual defense production of manufactured goods and technology to India. He believes that the military cooperation and collaboration is a “win-win situation” for both the nations. According to him, “the two nations do not compete with each other, rather they complete each other.”

The first panelist, Lt. Gen. Vinod Bhatia, congratulated the chairman, the president and people of PCRI for our efforts. Acknowledging the India-Israel relations, Lt. Gen. Bhatia said that the relation between the two countries is based on shared interest and mutual concerns, congruence and convergence of national interest. Having said that, he also believes the connection between the people is most important within the relations. Both India and Israel have had concerns related to separatist activities. He feels that the Indian Armed Forces is one of those armies who have become stronger due to the battles it had to fight, but also praised the capabilities of Israeli Defense Forces for their share of strength. He believes that India needs to learn from Israel on how to deal with the enemies in the neighborhood. He highlighted the issues in India such as cyber security, border management, special operations, and space, and Israel can be helpful to India on these issues along with other issues in defense. Defence Cooperation is the crux of the need from the India-Israel relations. Trust and confidence matters, and both has been there for both the nations.

The second panelist, Dr. Bharat, addressed that both India and Israel believe in trust, productivity and professionalism while also being emotionally connected with one another. Though Israel has fought for its existence for a long time, India had to fight for its survival during the early years of its naissance. He commends the valor of the Israeli Defense Forces in the Six Days War, and the Operation Babylon. He believes that India, with the help of Israel, can deal with the issues related to agriculture and defense. He believes that India needs to focus on the concept of future soldiers – where the country can provide its young soldiers the knowledge they need to defend the country. He also acknowledged the importance of the Special Forces in both the countries and the need to cooperate in this avenue.

The first question was asked to Lt. Gen. Bhatia about the aspects that would be needed to address in the realm of cooperation in defense. Lt. Gen. Bhatia believes that India and Israel are on the right path in forming the Joint Working Group and the formation of its framework has been important for both the countries, and this is one of the aspects both the nations can move forward with when it comes to cooperation. He also believes that the cooperation between both governments as well as between businesses. The Make in India initiative can be beneficial for India to garner cooperation with Israel. He also mentioned that reliability would be a major factor in deciding the strength of the cooperation.

The second question was asked to Dr. Bharat about the strategic relationship between the two countries based on the present geostrategic environment. Dr. Bharat replied that both the countries can develop on the humanoid warfare sector. India can take the help of Israel’s expertise in creating a bio hub which can help India to be able to counter the biological threat to the country. He also said that India can be Israel’s production hub and can reap the benefits of the produce by selling it to the world.

The third question was asked to Lt. Gen. Bhatia about whether India has a roadmap on collaboration with Israel in cyber security. Lt. Gen. Bhatia replied that despite the increase of cyber attacks in India, India has not been broken down because of it. The future of warfare is based on IOT, and hence India needs to solidify its cybersecurity, with Israel being a great support. He emphasized of certain limitations in funding and technologies. In fact there are limitations in supply chain as well, since it is vulnerable to cyber attacks as well. Israel can be helpful in creating firewalls against these issues of cybersecurity.

The fourth question was asked to Dr. Bharat on how India can bring the idea of innovation and startups in Tier 2 cities. He said that the machinery of drones can be a good startup idea for the companies and the government can assist in formation of startups related to defense machinery. He even addressed the need of importance of creating contingency plans related to bio-warfare and he believes that Israel can be a great partner in creating necessary equipments against biological terrorism. He also believes that retired armed officials can be perfect people to steer these initiatives.

The fifth question was asked to Lt. Gen. Bhatia on ways Homeland security can be improved based on the present threat perceptions in India. He believes that India and Israel can help each other through developing the comprehensive national security. He believes that India can learn from Israel’s examples of using techniques and technologies and using these on the Indian context.

The sixth question was asked to Dr. Bharat on the ways in which India can counter the technological threats of the neighboring countries with the help of Israel’s expertise. He suggested the use of low-cost exoskeletons which Israelis can assist Indians. Also he also suggested that the use of AI and robotics to fight the technological threats as well.

The concluding remarks :

Lt. Gen Bhatia congratulated the PCRI family, the Chairman and the President of PCRI for their marvelous efforts and Dr. Bharat and Maj Gen. Rajan Kochhar for having chaired the discussion. He found the discussion enriching and knowledgeable. He finds that the Indo-Israel relations are in a good trajectory and he wishes that both the countries have peace, friendship and cooperation.

Dr. Bharat also congratulated the PCRI family, the Chairman and the President of PCRI along with the other speakers. He concluded his remarks by commending Israel for its initiatives, India for the zeal it has shown in improving its defense and ended his speech with a quote, “Bharat uththan, Bharat nirman, Bharat Balwaan, Bharat Pratham”.

The audience asked several questions ranging from cooperation, national security, space and strategic relationship. Both the speakers gave beautiful answers to the questions.

Finally Maj. Gen. Rajan Kochhar congratulated the PCRI team, and the speakers for giving their time for the meet and he highlighted the key points of the meet as recognition of strength of both the countries, reinforcement of strength, and trust, reliability of equipment, professionalism of the IDF and the need of adhering these principles within the system of Indian Armed Forces, need of creation of strategic partnerships in various fields, etc., use of AI and biowarfare along with reinforcement of cybersecurity as well. Both India and Israel can work on the formation of space stations as well, he concluded.