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New Delhi: India has signed a significant £350 million ($468 million) defence deal with the United Kingdom to procure Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) systems for the Indian Army. This contract, part of India's ongoing modernization and strengthening of its armed forces, will enhance the country's air defence capabilities with UK-manufactured missiles produced by Thales in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The deal underscores the importance of the strategic partnership between India and the UK and supports long-term collaboration on complex weapons development. It aligns with India's defense modernization goals while complementing the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by meeting current and future requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defence.
Alongside the missile supply, India and the UK have also signed an Implementing Arrangement to advance cooperation on electric-powered naval propulsion systems, valued initially at £250 million ($333 million). This collaboration marks a new phase in India-UK industrial ties, particularly in advancing cutting-edge naval technology.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed these enhancements during the latter’s visit to Mumbai, reaffirming the growing defense and security cooperation between the two countries. The Indian Navy also engaged in complex maritime exercises with the UK Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean, further solidifying the strategic partnership.
The deal facilitates India's access to versatile, low-cost, and effective multirole missiles capable of engaging various aerial and surface threats, contributing to heightened operational readiness. It also strategically benefits the UK defense industry by securing over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland, demonstrating a mutually beneficial partnership.
This milestone deal is expected to pave the way for a broader complex weapons partnership between India and the UK, accelerating joint development efforts in defence technologies and reinforcing India’s defense preparedness in a challenging regional security environment.
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India regards these agreements as pivotal elements of its defense diplomacy, reinforcing its commitment to collaborative innovation and enhanced military capabilities.
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