-
£350m deal set to deliver UK missiles for the Indian Army,
supporting hundreds of jobs in the UK
-
New milestone reached in UK-India defence industrial
collaboration on electric-powered engines for naval ships,
worth an initial £250m
-
Prime Minister , speaking in Mumbai, hails
the deals as an example of the growing strategic partnership
between the UK and India
A new £350 million deal with India will support hundreds of jobs
in Northern Ireland and supply India, a key strategic partner,
with air defence missiles and launchers.
The contract is set to deliver UK-manufactured Lightweight
Multirole Missiles (LMM) built in Belfast to the Indian Army,
delivering on the Government's Plan for Change in another
significant boost for the UK defence industry.
It secures over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland as the air defence
missiles and launchers due to be manufactured for the Indian Army
are the same as those currently being manufactured in Belfast for
Ukraine.
The deal paves the way for a broader complex weapons partnership
between the UK and India, currently under negotiation between the
two governments. A new milestone has also been reached in the UK
and India's cooperation on electric-powered engines for naval
ships as both countries signed the Implementing Arrangement to
advance collaboration to the next stage, worth an initial £250M.
It comes during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's two-day visit to
Mumbai, and as the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) participates in
complex air and naval exercises in the Indian Ocean with the
Indian Military, in a further sign of the growing strategic
partnership between both countries.
Defence Secretary, MP, said:
The defence deals announced today show how our growing strategic
partnership with India will boost UK business and jobs.
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.
As we deepen our defence relationship with India, we will harness
the UK defence industry as an engine for growth, securing vital
jobs in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.
The UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by the aircraft carrier
HMS Prince of Wales commenced Exercise Konkan with the Indian
Navy on Sunday 5th of October, in the Western Indian Ocean,
marking another major engagement with partners in the
Indo-Pacific.
The UK CSG, currently on an eight-month deployment to the
Indo-Pacific region known as Operation Highmast, linked up with
the Indian Navy's Carrier Strike Group, led by the aircraft
carrier INS Vikrant, to begin 4-days of complex maritime
exercises involving ships, submarines and aircraft from both the
forces.
Following the completion of the exercise, CSG units will visit
Mumbai and Goa. During these visits, in addition to enhanced
military interactions, the UK CSG will promote engagements
between UK and Indian industries, facilitate cultural exchanges,
and participate in outreach activities within the local
communities.
