Context (Indian Express): India and the United Kingdom are deepening defence cooperation through regular joint exercises and a 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap, signalling a long-term strategic alignment, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Key Pillars of the India–UK Defence Partnership
1. Operational Interoperability
Regular high-end military exercises enhance joint warfighting capabilities, interoperability, and mutual trust.
Example: Ajeya Warrior 2025 focused on complex multi-domain operations in desert conditions in Rajasthan, improving coordination between the two armies.
2. Maritime Cooperation
Shared Indo-Pacific priorities have strengthened naval coordination in sea control, carrier operations, and air defence.
Example: KONKAN 2025 witnessed India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant operating alongside the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales, reflecting advanced carrier strike cooperation.
3. Defence Industrial Synergy
The 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap leverages complementary strengths—India’s manufacturing scale and the UK’s advanced defence technologies.
Objective: Support Make in India, co-production, technology transfer, and job creation in both countries.
4. High-Value Defence Deals
Government-to-government agreements reinforce strategic trust and operational readiness.
Example: The £350-million deal for supplying Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to the Indian Army enhances short-range air defence capabilities.
5. Advanced Technology Collaboration
Cooperation extends to future-oriented defence technologies.
Example: Joint work on maritime electric propulsion systems aims to improve efficiency, stealth, and sustainability of Indian naval platforms.
Strategic Potential of the Partnership
- Indo-Pacific Stability:
Joint carrier operations and maritime coordination strengthen a rules-based order and deter coercive actions in critical sea lanes. - Counter-Terrorism & Intelligence:
Enhanced intelligence sharing and joint training improve the ability to counter cross-border terrorism, cyber threats, and hybrid warfare. - Resilient Defence Supply Chains:
Industrial collaboration reduces dependence on single-source suppliers, supporting diversified and secure global defence ecosystems. - Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR):
Combined strengths in logistics, airlift, and medical response improve joint capacity for evacuations and disaster relief across the region. - Emerging Technology Governance:
Cooperation in cyber security, AI-enabled defence systems, and space domain awareness helps shape global norms for responsible military technology use.
Conclusion
The India–UK defence partnership has evolved from episodic engagement to a structured, long-term strategic collaboration.
By combining operational cooperation with industrial and technological synergy, it contributes significantly to India’s defence modernisation and to stability in the Indo-Pacific.