Britain secures £350 million missile contract with India as defence cooperation deepens

10 October 2025 , 08:28

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Britain secures £350 million missile contract with India as defence cooperation deepens

Britain announced on Thursday that it had signed a contract worth 350 million pounds ($468 million) to supply the Indian army with UK-manufactured lightweight missiles, as part of expanding weapons and defence partnership between the two countries.

The announcement coincided with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai, where the two leaders praised the potential of their commercial links from a recently established trade deal.

In its statement on the defence deal, the British government stated that the new contract for Lightweight Multirole Missiles, produced by Thales in Northern Ireland, would secure 700 jobs at a factory that is currently manufacturing the same weapons for Ukraine.

"The deal lays the foundation for a broader partnership on complex weapons between the UK and India, which is currently being negotiated by both governments," it stated.

Over the past 12 months, Starmer has actively supported Britain’s defence sector to boost economic growth, committing to increase spending in accordance with NATO targets, and focusing on securing exports, such as a recent $13.5 billion frigate contract with Norway.

Britain also announced on Thursday that it reached a new milestone with India regarding a collaboration on electric-powered engines for naval ships, as both countries signed the next phase of a deal, initially valued at 250 million pounds.

($1 = 0.7481 pounds)

James Smith

Editor-in-Chief