UK and India Sign $468 Million Missile Deal During Prime Minister Starmer's Mumbai Visit

Prime Minister Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer conducted discussions in Mumbai today.

Britain announced on Thursday the signing of a Rs 4158.58 Crore ($468 million) contract to provide the Indian army with lightweight missiles manufactured in the UK, strengthening the weapons and defense partnership between the two nations.

The announcement coincided with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Mumbai, where he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During their meeting, both leaders emphasized the commercial potential of their recently established trade agreement.

In its official statement regarding the defense deal, the British government revealed that the new contract for Lightweight Multirole Missiles, produced by Thales in Northern Ireland, would preserve 700 jobs at the facility that currently manufactures the same weapons systems for Ukraine.

"This deal establishes a foundation for a more extensive complex weapons partnership between the UK and India, which is currently under negotiation between the two governments," the statement indicated.

Over the past year, Starmer has strongly supported Britain's defense industry to stimulate 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 achieving a new milestone with India regarding a collaboration on electric-powered engines for naval vessels, with both countries signing the next phase of an agreement worth an initial 250 million pounds.