The United Kingdom on Thursday signed a new £350 million defence agreement with India, a move that will support hundreds of jobs in Northern Ireland while providing India — described as a “key strategic partner” — with advanced air defence missiles and launchers, the UK government announced in a statement.
According to the statement, the project will secure over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland. The air defence missiles and launchers manufactured for the Indian Army will be of the same type currently being produced in Belfast for Ukraine.
The deal also lays the foundation for a broader complex weapons partnership between the UK and India, which is presently under negotiation between the two governments.
Additionally, the UK government highlighted a “new milestone” in bilateral cooperation on electric-powered engines for naval ships, as both countries signed an Implementing Arrangement to advance collaboration to the next stage — worth an initial £250 million.
The announcement coincides with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s two-day visit to Mumbai, and with the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) taking part in joint air and naval exercises with the Indian military in the Indian Ocean — a further sign of the strengthening strategic relationship between the two nations.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP said,
“The defence deals announced today show how our growing strategic partnership with India will boost UK business and jobs.”
He added,
“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.”
Healey further noted,
“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 across the UK.”
The UK Carrier Strike Group, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, began Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy on Sunday, October 5, in the Western Indian Ocean, marking another major engagement under the UK’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
The CSG, currently on an eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region under Operation Highmast, joined the Indian Navy’s Carrier Strike Group led by INS Vikrant for four days of complex maritime exercises involving ships, submarines, and aircraft from both forces, according to the UK government.
Following the exercise, CSG units will visit Mumbai and Goa, where they will engage in enhanced military interactions, promote industry partnerships, facilitate cultural exchanges, and participate in community outreach activities.
