Indian PM Narendra Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer during defence deal talks; agreement includes Thales-built lightweight Martlet missiles (Photo: X | @narendramodi)
India and UK signed a defence pact worth $468 million on October 9 by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, follows a bigger Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiated earlier in July. Starmer's visit is characterized by meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and it illustrates UK's intention to avail further defence exports while supporting mutual security goals.
This particular pact is also seen as a strategic push from London to energize its domestic defence industry while falling in sync with New Delhi's modernization objectives.
The core of the pact rests upon the acquisition of UK-manufactured lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs) for India through Thales a premier defense contractor. These missiles are state-of-the-art and will be produced at Thales Belfast site in Northern Ireland a move that is to create around 700 jobs in the UK. Contracted by the British Ministry of Defence, this procurement forms part of wider government plans to stimulate domestic industry while bringing advanced defense systems to international partners.
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According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, the pact would augment India's capabilities in air defense for present and future operational needs. It describes the agreement as an important milestone in improving India's tactical preparedness and bilateral defense cooperation.
Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) is called Martlet for export markets are all purpose precision munitions designed to be used in various configurations. They can be used differently to support air-to-surface, air-to-air, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missions. It was denominated by a legendary bird from English heraldry which never lands, thus conveying concepts of agility and continuous readiness in their use as reflected in its design.
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The same missile system was supplied by the UK to Ukraine adding a clear badge of battlefield performance and adaptability for the system. The inclusion of the missile in India's arsenal makes a marked step forward in realizing flexible-modern weapons for use across varied theatres of combat.
The other contract together with the missile deal was for a separate amount of $332 million involving an electric propulsion technology acquisition for naval vessels as reported by Reuters. It presents a more extensive phase of cooperation not only in weapons but also in advanced maritime technologies.
As both capitals focus on balancing these priorities at the regional and global levels this developing partnership in defense may also herald a long-term future of extensive military industrial collaboration.
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