India-UK defence ties: Pact inked to develop complex weapons, jet & warship engines; vision 2035 roadmap

NEW DELHI: India and the United Kingdom on Wednesday announced a 10-year defence industrial roadmap, aimed at boosting defence cooperation and strengthening security ties as part of the broader Vision 2035 partnership. The plan was unveiled in a post by the British high commission on social media platform X.

The roadmap focuses on co-development, joint research, and innovation across defence technologies, with an emphasis on supply chain resilience , developing complex weapons, jet and warship engines and enhanced national security for both countries.

Key areas of collaboration

The announcement outlines multiple areas of strategic cooperation:

• Advanced technology: Both countries have agreed upon deepening cooperation in programmes such as the Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership (EPCP) and Jet Engine Advanced Core Technologies (JEACT), these are central to technological collaboration in complex weapon systems.
• Maritime security: They also have announced plans to set up a Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence under the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative. It will serve as a capacity-building hub for nations in the Indian Ocean region and address non-traditional maritime security threats.
• Military ties: The two nations plan to expand joint military exercises across land, air, and sea. Military instructors will also be posted in each other’s training institutions. The UK reaffirmed its commitment to recognising India as a regional logistics hub for its armed forces.
• Research and development: The joint R&D will focus on underwater systems, directed energy weapons, and collaboration with academic institutions to promote innovation in defence technologies.

The British high commission noted that the partnership will also work towards enhancing cyber resilience and support cooperation on broader issues such as migration. Officials from both sides see the roadmap as a long-term commitment to regional stability and a rules-based international order.

The initiative builds on complementary strengths in the defence sector, offering new avenues for industrial and technological collaboration in the coming decade.