Britain announced on Thursday the signing of a £350 million ($468 million) deal to supply the Indian army with British-made lightweight missiles, marking a significant step in deepening the defense and strategic partnership between the two countries.
The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Mumbai, where the two leaders also welcomed the growing trade potential arising from their recently concluded trade deal.
Read: UK and India sign trade deal
According to a press release published by the British government, the contract concerns the supply of light multi-role missiles (LMM) produced by Thales in Northern Ireland. The deal is expected to guarantee the creation of 700 jobs at the Thales factory, which currently manufactures the same missile system for Ukraine.
“The agreement paves the way for a wider complex arms partnership between the UK and India, currently being negotiated between the two governments,” the statement said.
Learn more: UK, India strike trade deal amid US tariff blitz
Over the past year, Starmer has made defense exports a key part of his economic growth agenda, pledging to increase defense spending in line with NATO commitments. His government has sought to bolster Britain’s defense manufacturing sector with major export contracts, including a recent $13.5 billion frigate deal with Norway.
Britain also announced a new milestone with India in naval technology, as the two sides signed the next phase of a partnership on electric motors for warships – a deal worth an initial £250 million.
