India and the UK are on the verge of finalising two landmark defence agreements covering electric propulsion for Indian Navy warships and co-production of Martlet lightweight multirole missiles, alongside deeper cooperation in jet engine development for India’s fifth-generation AMCA fighter. 

These deals mark a decisive step in long-term defence industrial collaboration and strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific.

India and the United Kingdom are close to signing two inter-governmental agreements that will cement their defence-industrial partnership. The first agreement focuses on the incorporation of Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) systems into four Landing Platform Docks of the Indian Navy.

This initiative is part of India’s broader naval modernisation drive, with the Navy targeting a 200-ship fleet by 2035 to counter the expanding Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region. Some existing vessels may also be retrofitted from diesel to electric propulsion, reducing fossil fuel dependency and enhancing operational efficiency.

The second agreement involves the production of Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) for the Indian Army. The missile, manufactured by Thales in Belfast, is a compact precision-guided weapon employing laser beam-riding guidance.

Its versatility allows deployment from helicopters, vehicles, naval vessels, and man-portable launchers. The Indian order is expected to be one of the largest globally, second only to Ukraine’s procurement, and will significantly enhance India’s precision strike capabilities.

Beyond these agreements, the UK has entered the race to design and develop a 120kN jet engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA MK-2). While Safran of France has been negotiating with India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment for several years, delays have opened the door for Rolls Royce and General Electric.

Rolls Royce has offered full Intellectual Property rights for the engine once developed, a major concession that strengthens its bid. On 14 August, Rolls Royce also announced a partnership with Reliance Industries Limited to establish a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India, which would serve as a centre of excellence for propulsion technology.

India and the UK have already taken steps to deepen defence ties. At Aero India in February 2025, the UK launched “Defence Partnership–India” (DP-I), a dedicated cell within its Ministry of Defence to expand cooperation.

A contract was also signed between Thales UK and Bharat Dynamics Limited for Starstreak man-portable air-defence systems under the Emergency Procurement route, covering 16 launchers, 56 missiles, and a simulator worth approximately ₹292 crores. This deal could expand significantly in the future.

The defence cooperation is reinforced by overlapping strategic concerns in the Indo-Pacific, where Britain views India as a stabilising force. Both nations are also strengthening military-to-military cooperation through joint exercises, training exchanges, and research collaborations. The UK has agreed to integrate Indian Air Force instructors into the Royal Air Force training system, enhancing interoperability and knowledge sharing.

These defence initiatives are part of a broader strategic partnership that also includes economic cooperation. The bilateral Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK came into effect on 15 July 2026, amid global tariff disruptions. This agreement reflects the growing convergence of interests and the determination of both nations to build resilient supply chains and advanced industrial capabilities.

The defence roadmap between India and the UK is guided by Vision 2035, which emphasises co-development of advanced technologies, complex weapons, underwater systems, and directed energy weapons.

The focus is on innovation, joint manufacturing, and integration of Indian Start-Ups into defence supply chains, aligning with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat program.

These agreements represent one of the most substantive convergences in India-UK defence relations in decades. For Britain, they provide an opportunity to regain lost ground in India’s growing defence sector. For India, they secure access to advanced technologies while building indigenous capacity, ensuring strategic autonomy in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific.

Agencies