Britain announced on Thursday that it has signed a £350 million ($468 million) agreement to supply the Indian Army with UK-made lightweight missiles, marking a significant step in the growing defence and strategic partnership between the two nations.
The announcement coincided with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai, where he met his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. Both leaders praised the opportunities arising from their recently signed trade deal and the broader potential of UK-India commercial ties.
According to the UK government, the new contract covers the supply of Lightweight Multirole Missiles manufactured by Thales in Northern Ireland. The deal is expected to safeguard around 700 jobs at the factory, which is currently producing the same weapons for Ukraine.
“The agreement lays the foundation for a wider complex weapons partnership between the UK and India, which is currently being negotiated by both governments,” the statement added.
Over the past year, Starmer has placed renewed emphasis on strengthening Britain’s defence industry as part of his strategy to boost economic growth. His government has pledged to meet NATO spending commitments and increase defence exports, following other major successes such as the recent $13.5 billion frigate contract with Norway.
