The United Kingdom has inked a £350 million (≈ $468 million) contract to supply India with lightweight multirole missiles manufactured by Thales in Northern Ireland.
The deal was announced during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India and is seen as a cornerstone of an expanded defense-industrial partnership. It is expected to secure around 700 jobs in the Thales factory and underpin further arms cooperation between the two nations.
In addition, the UK and India advanced a naval collaboration, signing a follow-on agreement for electric-powered ship engines, reflecting deepening military ties in the Indo-Pacific.
Indian officials described the arrangement as strategic, intended to enhance India’s deterrence while boosting the UK’s role in global defense markets. Observers say the pact could shift balance in the region, signaling a more robust alliance amid rising China-U.S. competition.
For Indian media, the move highlights strengthened defense sovereignty; for UK and Western outlets, it underlines London’s pivot toward Asia in its post-Brexit foreign policy.