INDIA - Partners with Israel on AI

On February 1, 2026, New Delhi formally codified a fundamental shift in its security paradigm: With the unveiling of the Union Budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026-27, the Indian Ministry of Defense received a historic allocation of approximately $93.5 billion (₹7.85 lakh crore). This 15.2% increase is not merely an inflationary adjustment but also serves as the strategic financial roadmap for the post-Operation Sindoor era—reflecting an India that has moved from strategic ambiguity to assertive clarity.

A critical 30% increase in the “other equipment”—approximately $9.8 billion (₹82,217 crore)—is specifically directed at artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous ISR systems, and network-centric warfare. India is no longer purchasing hardware in isolation; it is investing in the “digital brain” of the force to ensure operational fusion between its services.

The FY27 budget makes it clear that the Indian market for conventional, off-the-shelf platforms is shrinking while the market for intelligence-on-board (integrating AI, edge computing, and smart systems for autonomous decision-making) is exploding. India’s counter-drone architecture, which successfully destroyed hundreds of hostile drones during Sindoor, is now the baseline requirement.

This is where the Israeli sector has a unique advantage. Israeli defense firms are not just equipment vendors; they are providers of battle-proven algorithms.

The synergy between Israeli AI expertise and India’s industrial scale is the only viable path for the next decade of their strategic partnership.

-www.jpost.com, 22 February 2026

Commentary: India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, revealed the extraordinary friendship between his country and Israel at the end of February 2026. Many ask, why? First, as the world’s largest country by population, India’s intellectual reservoir has largely been neglected and underestimated. But defense is a major issue, since to the west lies Pakistan, an aggressive Islamic nation. This goes back to the “Indian Independence Act of 1947,” which divided the British colony into the independent nations of India and Pakistan.

We note that Pakistan is a nuclear power, and so is India. The repeated violent conflicts, although limited, cause India to be cautious.

In the meantime, India is the world’s largest democracy. Most economic prognosticators see India in second place after China in GDP (PPP) rankings, that according to StatisticsTimes.com for 2025.

When it comes to defense, Israel is the number one source of high-tech military solutions, due to their extensive experience.

A Google search reveals that in India, there are approximately 25 to 30 million evangelical Christians.

Other research states:

Growth Rates & Scope: Conservative estimates suggest thousands of daily conversions. The percentage of Christians, according to some reports, has seen significant increases, challenging the traditional 2.5% figure and showing strong growth in the last 10-15 years.

Indigenous Movement: A significant portion of this growth comes from Indian-Initiated Churches (IICs), which are homegrown movements focusing on local culture and needs.

The need is great, the danger is real, and our brethren in the faith experience much of Acts 14:22: “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” For a free monthly prayer letter from our brother John Ishmael in India, write to him at ishmael.john@gmail.com

(See Death of a Guru, Item #2149, $13.99.)