Mumbai: India and the United Kingdom have sealed a transformative defence partnership worth over £600 million (approximately ₹6,500 crore), marking one of the most significant bilateral defence collaborations in recent years.
The comprehensive package includes a landmark £350 million contract for supplying advanced air defence missiles to the Indian Army and a £250 million partnership for developing next-generation electric propulsion systems for the Indian Navy.
India-UK defence deal 2025: Belfast-Made Missiles to Strengthen Indian Army’s Air Defence
The centrepiece of the agreement is a £350 million deal that will equip the Indian Army with UK-manufactured Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) and launchers.
These cutting-edge air defence systems will be manufactured in Belfast, Northern Ireland, securing over 700 jobs in the UK defence industry.
The missiles represent the same technology currently being produced for Ukraine, demonstrating their proven battlefield effectiveness.
“The defence deals announced today show how our growing strategic partnership with India will boost UK business and jobs,” said UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP during the announcement in Mumbai.
India-UK defence deal 2025: What Makes LMM Special for India?
The Lightweight Multirole Missiles are versatile, precision-guided weapons designed for flexibility across multiple platforms.
These advanced systems can be deployed on various military platforms, providing the Indian Army with enhanced air defence capabilities against modern aerial threats.
The deal is particularly significant as it paves the way for a broader complex weapons partnership between India and UK, currently under negotiation between both governments.
Revolutionary Naval Partnership Takes Shape
Alongside the missile agreement, India and UK reached a crucial milestone in their collaboration on electric-powered engines for naval ships. Both nations signed an Implementing Arrangement worth an initial £250 million to advance this groundbreaking cooperation.
This partnership focuses on co-design, co-creation, and co-production of integrated electric propulsion (IEP) systems for future Indian Navy vessels, strongly supporting India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative.
Electric propulsion technology offers significant advantages for modern naval vessels, including reduced noise signatures, improved fuel efficiency, and enhanced operational flexibility – critical capabilities for the Indian Navy’s modernization plans.
Strategic Timing: CSG Exercises in Indian Ocean
The defence deals coincide with the UK Carrier Strike Group’s (CSG) participation in Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy in the Western Indian Ocean.
Led by HMS Prince of Wales, the UK CSG is conducting complex air and naval exercises with Indian forces, including INS Vikrant carrier strike group. The eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment, Operation Highmast, demonstrates Britain’s commitment to the region.
India-UK defence deal 2025: Boosting Atmanirbhar Bharat
Defence Secretary Healey emphasized the collaborative nature of these agreements, stating, “I am hopeful that this will pave the way for a deeper relationship between our two defence industries, particularly in the development of electric engines for naval ships and in air defence.”
The naval propulsion partnership aligns perfectly with India’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing, ensuring technology transfer and capability building within the country.
India-UK defence deal 2025: Strategic Partnership Deepens
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking in Mumbai during his two-day visit, hailed the deals as examples of the growing strategic partnership between UK and India.
The agreements represent more than commercial transactions – they signal deepening defence-industrial cooperation between two major democracies in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
India-UK defence deal 2025: Jobs and Economic Impact
The missile manufacturing contract secures over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland’s defence sector, while the naval collaboration promises significant employment opportunities in both countries.
Following the completion of Exercise Konkan, UK CSG units will visit Mumbai and Goa for enhanced military-to-military interactions, industry engagements, cultural exchanges, and community outreach activities.
Future Outlook
These landmark agreements establish a strong foundation for expanded UK-India defence cooperation in critical areas including:
- Complex weapons systems development
- Naval propulsion technology
- Air defence capabilities
- Joint military exercises and training
- Defence industrial collaboration
As India continues modernizing its armed forces and the UK strengthens its Indo-Pacific presence, this £600 million partnership sets the stage for even deeper strategic cooperation in the years ahead.
The deals demonstrate how defence partnerships can drive economic growth, technological advancement, and strategic security simultaneously – a win-win for both nations in an era of rapidly evolving global security challenges.
