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India and UK Advance Military Production and Defence Cooperation
India and the United Kingdom are planning new projects to make military equipment together.
One project would give some Indian Navy ships electric propulsion systems.
Another would produce lightweight missiles in India.
India also wants to build a much larger navy by 2035.
The UK’s Rolls-Royce is competing to help develop an engine for India’s future AMCA-Mk2 fighter.
India and the UK have already agreed to cooperate on Starstreak air-defence systems.
Their militaries are also conducting exercises and research together.
The countries say these steps will strengthen their strategic partnership, especially in the Indo-Pacific.
India and the United Kingdom are nearing agreements on electric propulsion for Indian Navy ships and production of Marlet lightweight multirole missiles.
The proposed propulsion agreement covers integrated full electric propulsion for four Indian Navy landing platform docks.
India aims to build a 200-ship navy by 2035 amid concerns about China’s expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
The UK’s Rolls-Royce is competing to develop a 120kN engine for India’s AMCA-Mk2 fighter and has offered India full intellectual-property control.
Defence cooperation is expanding through Starstreak air-defence systems, military exercises, research links and the bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
- Who
- The governments and defence industries of India and the United Kingdom, including the Indian Navy, Rolls-Royce, Thales UK and Bharat Dynamics Limited.
- What
- They are preparing defence agreements covering electric ship propulsion, missile production and broader military-industrial cooperation.
- Where
- The cooperation will involve India and the Indo-Pacific region, including production and technology work in India.
- When
- The agreements are described as close to signing; related announcements were made in February 2025, August 14 and July 15.
- Why
- The countries seek stronger strategic and industrial ties, while India responds to China’s expanding naval presence and Britain seeks a larger role in India’s defence sector.
Key facts
- Proposed ship project
- Integrated full electric propulsion for four Indian Navy landing platform docks.
- Indian Navy target
- A 200-ship force by 2035.
- Missile cooperation
- Planned production of Marlet lightweight multirole missiles.
- AMCA engine requirement
- India is seeking a global partner for a 120kN engine for the AMCA-Mk2.
- Rolls-Royce offer
- The proposal includes full control of the engine’s intellectual property for India once developed.
- Starstreak contract
- Thales UK and Bharat Dynamics Limited agreed on 16 launchers, 56 missiles and one simulator, valued at about $35 million.
- Defence Partnership–India
- The UK formally launched the dedicated Ministry of Defence cooperation cell at Aero India in February 2025.
- Trade agreement
- The bilateral Free Trade Agreement came into effect on July 15, according to the article.
Quotes
The Diplomat article
The publication cited by the article for analysis of India-UK defence relations
“With this slew of agreements, Britain is looking to regain lost space in India's growing defence sector. For India, the UK is one of the important stabilising vectors in its multilateral alignment strategy to safeguard its interests.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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