UK secures $468 million deal to supply lightweight multirole missiles to Indian Army

Britain has concluded a landmark £350-million ($468 million) defence agreement with India to supply lightweight multirole missile (LMM) systems to the Indian Army, marking a significant step forward in bilateral defence ties. The deal was announced on Thursday during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai, where he met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Global Fintech Fest 2025.

According to Britain’s defence ministry, the contract covers the delivery of air defence missiles and launchers manufactured by Thales at its Belfast facility in Northern Ireland. The agreement is expected to support 700 jobs at the plant, which has also been producing similar weapons for Ukraine. Officials described the deal as the foundation for a broader “complex weapons partnership” currently being negotiated between London and New Delhi.

The announcement coincided with the deployment of a UK carrier strike group participating in the Konkan 2025 naval exercise alongside the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea. Defence and security cooperation featured prominently in talks between Modi and Starmer, with both leaders underlining the importance of strengthening long-term collaboration in advanced defence technologies.

While India did not immediately issue a detailed statement on the missile contract, a joint declaration confirmed the government-to-government agreement for “an initial supply” of LMM systems to bolster India’s air defence capabilities. The statement also emphasized that the agreement will meet current and future requirements of the Indian defence ministry while fostering industrial partnerships.

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the leaders also reviewed progress on the defence industrial roadmap unveiled in July. He added that discussions included cooperation on electric propulsion systems for Indian naval ships. In this regard, the UK defence ministry confirmed that the two countries signed an “implementing arrangement” for the development of electric-powered engines for warships, valued at an initial £250 million ($333 million).

British Prime Minister Starmer hailed the missile and propulsion deals as evidence of a rapidly expanding strategic partnership with India. Defence secretary John Healey echoed the sentiment, stressing that these agreements will deepen ties between the defence industries of both countries, particularly in air defence and maritime technologies.

With these contracts, India and the UK are poised to expand their cooperation in critical areas of defence, reflecting New Delhi’s broader efforts to diversify its military partnerships and strengthen indigenous capability through international collaboration.