India has agreed to purchase £350 million worth of UK-manufactured air defence missiles and launchers, securing hundreds of jobs in Northern Ireland and deepening the strategic partnership between London and New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence announced today.
Under the contract, the Indian Army will receive Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) built in Belfast, the same variant currently being supplied to Ukraine. The deal will sustain more than 700 jobs at Thales’ Northern Ireland facility and forms part of a wider effort to expand UK-India cooperation on complex weapons.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the agreement demonstrates how deepening defence collaboration with India can drive growth across Britain’s industrial base. “The defence deals announced today show how our growing strategic partnership with India will boost UK business and jobs,” he said. “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.”
Alongside the missile contract, both nations have signed an implementing arrangement to advance joint work on electric-powered engines for naval ships, worth an initial £250 million. This marks the next phase of bilateral industrial collaboration outlined in the UK’s Strategic Defence Review and India’s “Make in India” programme.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking during his visit to Mumbai, described the deals as evidence of a strengthening strategic bond between the two countries. His trip coincides with the ongoing Exercise Konkan, in which the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, is operating alongside the Indian Navy’s carrier INS Vikrant in the Western Indian Ocean.
The Ministry of Defence said the agreements highlight both countries’ intent to align defence industrial growth with strategic stability across the Indo-Pacific.
Now what were we saying yesterday about India ?👀😁👀
Yes, and none of this has made me change my view.
As J said, a neutral India favouring the democracies over a neutral India leaning to China is the best we can hope for.
Gives Starmer and Healey a chance to push the industry and jobs side again, though.
I’d have rather they were pressed at the press conference as to when the RN will have more than 13 Frigates.
But of course, they’d dodge.
buying British is a sound approach after all, British is best. they would and fall over doing it no doubt
I don’t see a future where India favours China in the slightest. While Indian attitudes to the West and Russia are far more flexible, China remains their single major regional rival.
As for frigates, a better question might be when the RN will actually have the 19 escorts that were mandated as the minimum force to be maintained.
Well said
It might well be, Callum.
100% Daniele
Who is “J” ? Not seen a “J”, saw a JJ and a JJsmall thingy oh and I saw a Jay a while back but that was a bird !
China (Xi) has recently chilled their stance on India, you could imagine a fake friendly posture with a view to a “Peace Dividend” all the while China will be building and plotting.
A UK friendly India is far more favourable than an unfriendly India, especially now we have given away a strategic Territory in their front garden which we pass through on our way East and to our other friends.
I think my opinion shall always differ and that’s how these things go.
Friday night is Curry night here, maybe I’ll go and pick it up personally tomorrow, see what they think !!!!
Hi mate.
Apologies.
J is Jonathan, our long term resident UKDJ poster who is the SME all things NHS, and who delves a great deal into the geopolitical side of things.
See his essay bottom of thread on the recent Falklands article as an example, re the importance of the Falklands regarding Antarctica and what might be coming.
I don’t think our politicians play geopolitics very well, too short sighted.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I’d vote for Jonathan if he went into politics as I appreciate his balanced views and geopolitical insight.
And yes, we have a JJ here and a Jay.
What are you having? I always go for a Prawn Biriyani.
Oh J, yes I like his comments, we’ve had quite a few little OT chats about random stuff, I do read all of his and many others stuff and Yes, he does seem to post some pretty insightfull content.
The FI strategic Location/Importance has been so for many centuries, I totally see where he is coming from in regards to the future.
JJ has gone (well maybe he’s posting under a new name) I liked his grasp of all things Humourous too. I also see a Jon and a John and the occasional Jon and John that don’t seem to be the same !
If I stay there It’ll be just a Madras but If I take it home, then probably a Phal. It’s better to cry and sniff at home than in the middle of a busy room !
Yes, Jon is another regular poster here.
So….you’re a masochist!! A Phal…..oh dear. I dipped the Keema Nann in a tiny piece of the sauce once, pre meal. The meal was ruined.
I saw my old boss being the “he man” ordering it and he was red in the face, sweating like a Pig, but wanted to finish it to show he was a “real man”
What a load of cobblers, food should be pleasurable, not torture.
( Go for the Madras, even that is way to much for me.)
I’m afraid my “Real Man” antics go back a fair few decades (mid 80’s) My personal Heat tolerance is really high so anything “Limp Wristed” is just dissapointing. The Heat and the pain are addictive and like all things extreme, I’m a magnet to their Drug.
You have a typical view of hot curries but I can assure you the Heat is what makes it pleasurable to some of us !!!!
Ya great southern pansy 😁😁😁😁😁
Very true!!
Once upon a time I used to visit Newcastle regularly, stay in the same area & frequent the same Indian restaurant. Suffice to say that I had worked my way through their menu & knew that I could enjoy their phal. However, unbeknownst to me they changed chefs in between my visits, phal duly ordered & woe betide me! … Fire! :p
That’s why I only order a Madras if eating in the restaurant, they have great pleasure “Hotting them up” when they see a Superhero Boasting !!!.
“Gone with the Wind”.
I wish we had some competent defence journalists asking meaningful questions.
Very much so. On forces equipment numbers they get away with murder as they are never, as far as I can recall, put on the spot.
All MoD statements are the same “We are spending blah blah blah” “world leading” “agile” “biggest shipbuilding program in a generation “UK jobs” “keeping us safe”
Cut the nonsense and talk of what is falling apart while HMG do not put the new money in and how they think HM forces can cope with such limited assets, and is it “right” that they have to put up with it?
To be fair, there are several good ones with knowledge on X but they are not in the room with the Minister or MoD Spokesperson.
Hi Daniele, agreed.
It’ll take decades to become true allies with India, if it ever happens. That’s not a criticism of India, just a geopolitical reality. “Neutral India favouring us” is the situation we should be aiming to create.
As long as we treat them accordingly, and with appropriate respect where it’s due, then we should achieve that.
Afternoon Joe.
I think the T32 idea would be better served by the purchase of the freedom class LCS that th Americans are decommissioning. if the Americans can’t get them doing what they were built for, the royal navy can and nothing will change until somewhere on the planet we shoot one of the Russians playthings
buying British is a sound approach after all, British is best.
Best for the economy maybe, but in terms of performance? I think the UK has been outpaced.
£350 million ? That is a cheap way to ensure the UK opposes sanctioning India for buying record amounts of Russian oil.
Also, I wonder if India will supply some of those missiles to Russia so they can develop counter measures.
LMM is a very simple missile, there’s no fancy technology in it that the Russians won’t know from things like capturing fallen missiles in Ukraine or simple espionage.
Also, as a beam-riding missile all of the sensors face rearwards towards the launcher making it very, very difficult to develop countermeasures against.
Like to see Thales and SEA do a hybrid decoy/LMM launcher based on the laters Ancilia decoy mount. Even a full 2×6 LMM-STARSTREAK launcher. Maybe newbie CA will do naval mounts for their SkyHammer and StarHammer missiles. Might be very worthwhile for the Carriers and all the RFA ships to compliment the Phalanx’s and 30mm.
Good to hear, thanks 👍
I wonder if there are plans to sell either of the QEC to India. 2nd hand RN carriers is a well trodden path after all. Might generate extra £ and crew to increase the escort fleet
What is the obsession with selling a QEC…?
ask the Treasury….but wouldnt surprise me if they did. Just think: frees up crew, generates £ and conveniently reduces the f35 need
It doesn’t generate any useful amount of money and they’re not even suitable for the Indian Navy
they have a history of VSTOL operation at sea….may not be so likely now given their move to catobar but India probably one of the few countries that could do it. Given huge amounts of money go into running and manning these ships would imagine there is argument for rebalancing in favour of escorts….not my wish just saying
No one’s going to sell them F35
Haven’t they already got two carriers? Wondering more if India might be a potential T26 or T31/AH140 customer?
Ludicrous comment 🤦🏻♂️
Wjy not sell the design so they can icence build it themselves, Do same for Japan.
*Why….licence
Vikrant is translated as Courageous, Mighty or thus a little less directly ‘Majestic’ from Sanskrit so has relations to both of those carrier classes, indeed their first carrier forbear of the present Vikrant was a Majestic Class carrier so the name was by some accounts said to be chosen as a result of that.
Cheers for that, It’s always good to know little bits of interesting info/background history.
Question: If the UK were stupid enough to sell one of the QEC aircraft carriers to India, then what aircraft types would the Indian navy be able to operate from it??
They’d have to buy F35Bs. Isn’t the US trying to sell F35As to them?
F35B only…but as I’ve said India one of the very few countries with extensive VSTOL operation at sea. With China rapidly expanding its carrier fleet and India being nervous, this could be seen as a quick way to compete. Also, UK needs to expand escort fleet but funds and crew are an issue currently. F35 program is struggling allegedly so giving up a QEC would limit the mount of airframes required therefore allowing further investment in Typhoon/Tempest. India has a history of buying used RN carriers!
Would sooner not sell anything to India, they’re tyre kickers.
The Indian arms procurement industry is corrupt as is most of India. From avoiding a speeding fine to winning major arms supply contracts it’s just a question of cash up front.
Wonder how much UK taxpayers money was used to bribe Indian officials from Modi down?
Starmer loves to send millions in “aid” to India. Wonder who in the British government is benefitting from the back handers?
Indians are obsessed with “velly cheep” and delays in payments.