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OPINION                                                             OCTOBER 10, 2025       |  The Indian Eye 11



        fication helps lessen reliance on any                                                                 Clean Energy Industries, and Profes-
        partner for its fifth-generation stealth                                                              sional  and  Business  Services,  which
        fighter  programme,  the  Advanced                                                                    are categorised as IS-8. In this case,
        Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).                                                                        strengthening the defence industrial
        The project was evaluating three lead-                                                                base is seen as essential for safeguard-
        ing contenders for engine collabora-                                                                  ing national security, while also serv-
        tion – General Electric (US), Rolls-                                                                  ing as a driver of innovation, exports,
        Royce  (UK),  and  Safran  (France).                                                                  and industrial scale-ups.
        Notably, France and the US already                                                                        For India, this reorientation cre-
        rank as India’s second and third-larg-                                                                ates  new  opportunities  for  collabo-
        est defence suppliers after Russia. On                                                                ration, particularly as Britain retains
        22 August 2025, Defence Minister                                                                      comparative advantages in higher
        Rajnath Singh announced that India                                                                    education, scientific research, and ad-
        will collaborate with Safran to co-pro-                                                               vanced technology. The UK’s evolv-
        duce the advanced jet engines.                                                                        ing role in European security, which
            Apart from jet engine technolo-                                                                   is anchored in a ‘NATO-first but not
        gy, the UK’s Martin-Baker maintains                                                                   NATO-only’  posture  and  shaped  by
        and manufactures ejection seats for                                                                   the possibility of American retrench-
        the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited                                                                     ment, further enhances the rationale
        (HAL) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft   Rolls-Royce has offered co-production and technology transfer under the Jet Engine Advanced Core   for deepening India–UK engagement
        (LCA) Mk-1A fighters. The company                                                                     across economic and security do-
        is also negotiating with the Aeronau-  Technologies (JEACT) initiative, including full intellectual property sharing commitments (File photo)   mains. At the same time, differences
        tical  Development Agency  (ADA)                                                                      over the Russia–Ukraine conflict and
        to supply ejection seats for the LCA   dia’s naval modernisation and build   flects the limited interaction in bilat-  India’s continued ties with Moscow
        Mk2, the AMCA, and the Twin-En-   domestic capacity beyond LPDs, cov-  eral defence cooperation with India,   remain persistent sources of friction,
        gine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF).  ering future destroyers, frigates, and   compared to major defence partners   complicating an otherwise convergent
            During the 2025 Aero India    a second indigenous aircraft carrier,   such as Russia, the US, France, and   Indo-Pacific outlook.
        event, Thales (UK) and Bharat Dy-  while boosting interoperability with   Israel. India’s indigenisation drive has
        namics Limited (BDL) signed a con-  UK systems and maritime power pro-  reshaped its defence procurement      WAY FORWARD
        tract to deliver Laser Beam Riding   jection. Furthermore, establishing a   landscape by mandating local manu-
        MANPADS (LBRM), beginning         Regional Maritime Security Centre of   facturing, imposing indigenous con-  he India-UK bilateral defence
        with STARStreak high-velocity mis-  Excellence has been proposed within   tent thresholds of at least 50 per cent,   industrial roadmap aims to
        siles and launchers. The agreement   the  Indo-Pacific  Oceans’  Initiative   and progressively restricting imports  Talign R&D priorities, secure
        includes  plans  to  co-develop  Light-  (IPOI) framework, whose maritime   of platforms and components through   intellectual property arrangements,
        weight Multirole Missiles (LMM)   security pillar is co-led by India and   the “positive lists” issued by the De-  and promote joint innovation hubs.
        and integrate the Indian industry into   the UK. Designed as a hub for re-  partment of Military Affairs (DMA)   The India–UK Vision 2035 includes
        Thales’ global supply chain. Paral-  gional capacity-building, the centre   and Department of Defence Produc-  provisions for annual reviews by the
        lel efforts by MBDA UK and BDL    aims to enhance collective responses   tion (DDP).                  External Affairs Minister of India
        have established an Advanced Short-  to non-traditional maritime challeng-  While these measures are intend-  and the UK Foreign Secretary, aimed
        Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM)   es, including piracy, cybercrime, and   ed to strengthen self-reliance, they   at evaluating outcomes to ensure ac-
        assembly and testing facility in Hyder-  illicit  trafficking,  thereby  reinforcing   also create the perception that India   countability and continuity across
        abad. This facility strengthens India’s   cooperative security mechanisms in   is challenging for foreign firms. With   governments. Vision 2035 can be
        fighter  fleet  and  positions  India  as   the Indian Ocean Region.  75 per cent of the 2025–26 defence   expected to evolve from a roadmap
        an exporter of precision munitions.   The Royal Navy conducted mul-  procurement budget reserved for   into a durable pillar of the India–UK
        These ventures illustrate the shift   tiple ship visits to India in 2023, while   domestic industry, external vendors   Comprehensive Strategic Partner-
        from buyer–seller dynamics toward   2024 saw joint drills with the Indi-  face pressure to localise production.   ship. The growing India-UK part-
        collaborative production ecosystems.  an Navy’s Littoral Response Group   Although Foreign Direct Investment   nership enhances global security and
            The maritime domain has       (South) and participation in Exercise   (FDI) rules have been liberalised,   national defence, with both sides le-
        emerged as another pillar of bilateral   Tarang Shakti. An Indian naval offi-  permitting up to 74 per cent through   veraging their complementary indus-
        defence cooperation. A Statement of   cer  was  appointed  Divisional  Train-  the automatic route and up to 100   trial strengths to expand military en-
        Intent (SoI) on Integrated Full Elec-  ing Officer at Britannia Royal Naval   per cent with government approval   gagements and deepen collaboration
        tric Propulsion (IFEP) technology   College. The 2035 vision document   for advanced technologies, actual in-  on strategic capabilities.
        was signed for India’s next-generation   flags expanded joint military exercises   flows remain limited due to concerns
        Landing Platform Dock (LPD) fleet.  across all domains, with instructor ex-  over intellectual property, limited   Dr Shayesta Nishat Ahmed is a
        [22]  Under  the  Electric  Propulsion   changes and India serving as a logis-  technology transfers and India’s pref-  Research Analyst at the Manohar
        Capability Partnership (EPCP), this   tics hub for UK forces in the region.   erence for government-to-govern-  Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies
        initiative uses Rolls-Royce’s proven   While these measures will deepen op-  ment deals. Exceptions exist, such as   and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi
        MT-30 marine gas-turbine technolo-  erational familiarity and build trust,   Sweden’s Saab receiving approval for
        gy in modular electric-drive systems.   both nations are deepening joint re-  100 per cent FDI to manufacture the   Views expressed are of the author and
        Such a process simplifies integration,   search and development (R&D) in   Carl-Gustaf M4 system.       do not necessarily reflect the views of
        testing, maintenance and crew man-  underwater systems, energy weapons,   Concurrently, the UK under the   the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
        ning. Expected operational advan-  and defence innovation.          Starmer government has reoriented        Government of India.
        tages  include  greater  fuel  efficiency,                          its industrial approach toward inno-
        reduced acoustic signature for stealth,   FUTURE CHALLENGES         vation-led growth, identifying defence   The  full  version  of  this  article first
        and abundant onboard electrical                                     as one of eight priority sectors, apart   appeared in the Comments section of
        power to support high-energy sensors   n recent times, the UK accounted   from Advanced Manufacturing, Cre-  the  website  (www.idsa.in)  of  Manohar
        and future directed-energy weapons.  for just over 3 per cent of India’s   ative Industries, Digital and Technol-  Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and
            The EPCP aims to accelerate In- Idefence acquisitions, which re-  ogy, Life Sciences, Financial Services,   Analyses, New Delhi, on October 1, 2025


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