Britain has signed a $468 million (£350 million) agreement to supply Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) to the Indian Army, marking a significant boost to UK-India defence cooperation.
The deal was finalized during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai. Where he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both leaders hailed the agreement as a milestone in expanding strategic and commercial ties between the two nations.
According to the UK government, the missiles—manufactured by Thales in Northern Ireland—will secure 700 jobs at the facility, which also produces weapons for Ukraine.
“The deal paves the way for a broader complex weapons partnership between the UK and India,” the government said, adding that discussions are ongoing for deeper collaboration in future defence technologies.
The agreement comes amid Starmer’s renewed focus on the defence sector as a driver of economic growth and NATO-aligned spending. Britain has recently pursued major export deals, including a $13.5 billion frigate contract with Norway, underscoring London’s ambitions to expand its global defence footprint. news
Additionally, the UK announced progress on a joint electric-powered naval engine program with India, valued at an initial £250 million, reflecting growing cooperation in green defence technology.
The twin announcements reinforce the UK’s strategy to strengthen ties with key Indo-Pacific partners while supporting domestic manufacturing and innovation.UK Signs $468 Million Missile Deal with India to Boost Defence Ties
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