This defence deal has been announced whilst Prime Minister Keir Starmer was on a two-day visit to Mumbai. It is reported that over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland will be secured at Thales as the air defence missiles and launchers are the same as those currently being manufactured in Belfast for Ukraine. The surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile can be operated from variety of platforms, it’s called ‘Martlet’ in the British Royal Navy and has been fitted to Wildcat helicopters.
Negotiations are ongoing for a deeper and more complex weapons partnership between the UK and India. Another deal has been struck in the UK and India’s cooperation on electric-powered engines for naval ships, both countries signed the Implementing Arrangement to proceed collaboration to the next stage, worth an initial £250M.
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.
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.
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 throughout the UK.
Strategic significance of UK – India defence deals
As both an industrial alliance and a statement of intent on security ties it is a significant step, the UK government has been stretched to find new partners after Brexit and has made strenuous efforts to build a presence in the Indo-Pacific. Britain is seeking to reposition itself as a solid partner in regional security and a supplier of hardware – India is one of the key players in this region.
The UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is on Operation Highmast, an eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. They will be conducting maritime exercises with the Indian Navy over four days and then visiting Mumbai and Goa for outreach and cultural exchange.
