Aero India 2025 and the Launch of Defence Partnership–India
A significant announcement was made by the United Kingdom regarding the formal launch of the Defence Partnership–India (DP-I), a dedicated initiative within the U.K. Ministry of Defence aimed at enhancing cooperation with India.
Key Defence Cooperation Agreements
- Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) and Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) production partnerships were established between India and the U.K.
- An Advanced Short-Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM) assembly and test facility will be set up in India.
- A Statement of Intent (SoI) was signed to design and develop an Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) system for Indian Navy ships.
Launch of the DP-I and Its Objectives
This initiative will act as a centralized program office within the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence, serving as a hub for bilateral defence collaboration.
Specific Collaborations and Agreements
- A contract was signed between Thales U.K. and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to supply Laser Beam-Riding MANPADs (LBRMs), including initial delivery of STARStreak high-velocity missiles and launchers.
- Future collaboration plans include production of LMMs.
- The partnership aims to integrate Indian and British industries into Thales’ global supply chain, addressing security concerns, creating jobs, and enhancing army interoperability.
- MBDA U.K. and BDL are collaborating to establish an ASRAAM assembly and test facility in Hyderabad for missiles that would be carried by the Jaguar and Light Combat Aircraft-Mk1A.
Maritime and Economic Growth Initiatives
- An SoI for developing an IFEP system for the Navy’s next-generation Landing Platform Dock (LPD) fleet was signed.
- General Electric (GE) Vernova and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) are jointly developing India’s first maritime Land-Based Testing Facility, targeting LPD deployments by 2030.