India and the United Kingdom have formalized a $468 million (£350 million) contract for missile supplies to the Indian Army. The missiles, Light Weight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) also called Martlets, will enhance Indian capabilities in air defence and boost the partners’ strategic partnership in the elaboration of weaponry, India UK missile deal.
The agreement in accordance with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat programme and connected with both present and future needs of the Ministry of Defence. Officials noted, the cooperation on this weaponry demonstrates the long-term ongoing relationship between both countries.
UK Defence Ministry officials noted the missile contract could create 700 new jobs in Northern Ireland. The Martlets are being manufactured in Belfast, on the same production line as was previously used to provide weapons to Ukraine, in order to maximize efficiency and continuity in manufacturing as possible.
British Defence Secretary John Healey, has said, it assists the UK defence industry, safeguards jobs, and promotes the development of technology. Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted that the collaboration, is an important mark in Indo-UK defence cooperation, India UK missile deal.
High-Level Engagement and Defence Collaboration
During Prime Minister Starmer’s initial official visit to India, he welcomed Prime Minister Modi in Mumbai accompanied by 125 business leaders. Both leaders explored further defence, defence technology cooperation, including the future home production of electric powered engines for naval vessels.
As officials have made clear, the defence agreement will enable India-UK defence ties for bigger cooperation and joint projects in developing more advanced weapons. This agreement also signals closer India-UK relations supporting regional and global security.
Features + Role of Martlets
Martlets are lightweight multirole missiles for air-to-air, air-to-surface, surface-to-air, and surface-to-surface tasks. Designed by Belfast’s Thales Air Defence, Martlets were factored from the Starburst surface-to-air missile into the UK’s “Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (Light)” requirement.
Martlets engage drones, armored vehicles, and other military targets. As a versatile munition, Martlets are have tactical and strategic tasks. The UK is also providing Martlets to Ukraine as evidence of their utility on the global defence stage. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Strategic and Defence Implications
The India-UK missile contract bolsters India’s air defence capability and enhances industrial cooperation between the two nations. According to defence analysts, the agreement advances operational readiness, guarantees technology transfers, and creates a framework for bilateral defence collaboration.
The development signifies a deeper commitment to mutual security interests, technology sharing, and capacity in the defence domain. It also underscores the growing importance of the Indo-UK strategic partnership in regional and global defence architectures.
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