Written By: Shweta Choubey
In the past decade, the Government of India has made significant progress in boosting its indigenous defence production. With the formal induction of Defence Acquisition Policy of 2020, the Indian government has directed focus on modernising the defence forces through in house production and attracting FDI through offset.
The biennial aerospace exhibition (Aero India) helps India showcase its aerospace and defence capabilities. Aero India-2025 was no different. Even though the major highlight of this year’s exhibition was the unveiling of 5.5th generation stealth aircraft AMCA, a major breakthrough in defence partnership was achieved by between the United Kingdom and India.
The UK announced the formal launch of “Defence Partnership-India” (DP-I) which will be a dedicated cell within the U.K. Ministry of Defence for deepening defence cooperation with India. It will act as a consolidated locus for advancing mutual engagements.
The key defence agreements signed are as follows:
A contract was signed by Thales UK and Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) for the production of Laser Beam Riding Man Portable Air Defence Systems (LBR-MANPADs) and Light Multirole Missiles (LMM).
MBDA UK and BDL signed an agreement to establish and Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile assembly and test facility in Hyderabad.
On the maritime front, a statement of Intent was signed to develop an Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) system for the Indian Navy’s next generation Landing Platform Dock Fleet (LPD).
GE Vernova and BHEL are working on India’s first Land-Based Testing Facility to deliver LPDs (by 2030).
Underscoring the advancements in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission, Lord Vernon Coaker, UK Defence Minister, said “It was a pleasure to visit India and continue to grow our already strong defence relationship. Our Defence Partnership and the UK-India Defence Partnership Pavilion will help strengthen our cooperation further, supporting economic growth in both our countries and India’s Atmanirbhar ambition.”
Quote sourced from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-india-defence-agreements-boost-atmanirbhar-bharat-ambition
Moreover, this collaboration comes at a point of time when the global power dynamics are shifting with both the nations seeking to play a pivotal role in ensuring rules based international order. It also reinforces the UK’s post-Brexit foreign policy focus on the Indo-Pacific.
DP-I is a significant milestone achieved in the UK-India strategic partnership. The developments highlight the increasing engagements of the two nations in defence and security sectors which aims to enhance regional and global security. The various agreements signed will help both the economies to boost bilateral trade and investment in the defence sector, create jobs and foster innovations in both the nations.
Aero-India 2025, one of the largest aerospace exhibitions in the world, provided an ideal platform for showcasing the UK-India partnership and helped in advancing bilateral trade through defence agreements. The UK-India strategic partnership is poised to grow further, especially in the areas such as AI, quantum technologies and space defence. The DP-I initiative lays a strong foundation for long-term cooperation, contributing to the peace and security of Indo-Pacific and beyond.
In conclusion, the UK-India Defence Partnership-India (DP-I) sets the stage for a new era of defence cooperation. With groundbreaking agreements across aerospace, naval, and missile sectors, this partnership not only bolsters regional security but also fuels innovation and trade. As both nations embrace a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific, DP-I promises to strengthen their strategic ties and drive mutual growth for years to come.
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