Overview

• Britain signed a £350 million contract to supply Lightweight Multirole Missiles and launchers to the Indian Army.
• Thales in Belfast will manufacture the systems, with the government saying the deal secures about 700 jobs in Northern Ireland.
• The two countries also signed an Implementing Arrangement to progress electric-powered naval engine cooperation worth an initial £250 million.
• Both governments describe the missile deal as paving the way for negotiations on a broader complex weapons partnership that remains under discussion.
• The announcements coincided with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai as the UK Carrier Strike Group conducts Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy and schedules port calls in Mumbai and Goa.