The United Kingdom and India said they will work more with industry partners to support the two countries’ increasing defense cooperation.
The two sides agreed to deepen their strategic collaboration during Indian Defense Minister Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh’s visit to the U.K. on Wednesday.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, experts from both nations will advance the development of electric propulsion systems that will power future aircraft fleets. They will establish Defence Partnership-India, an office to oversee other defense collaborations such as complex weapons systems development.
The allies also plan to fortify their cadet organizations’ strong ties by signing new agreements enabling regular youth and military instructor exchanges.
Additionally, the partner nations will forge a new deal to provide logistic support during joint military exercises and authorized port visits. The arrangement will also apply when the Indian and UK armed forces conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
The collaborative efforts include the signing of a letter of arrangement to advance research and development programs for next-generation capabilities, the MoD said.
The upcoming joint initiatives support the MoD’s plans to deploy the British Royal Navy’s Littoral Response Group to the Indian Ocean in 2024 and the Carrier Strike Group in 2025 for joint training with Indian naval forces.
UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said building stronger strategic relationships with key partners like India highlights the United Kingdom’s commitment to maintaining a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
