New Delhi: India and the United Kingdom on Wednesday announced a 10 -year defense industrial roadmap, aimed at promoting defense cooperation and strengthening security relations as part of the comprehensive vision 2035 partnership. The plan was unveiled by the British High Commission on the social media platform X. Roadmap co-development, joint research, and innovation in defense technologies focuses on innovation, the supply chain emphasizes flexibility, developing complex weapons, jets and warship engines and increased national security for both countries.
Major area of cooperation
The declaration underlines many areas of strategic cooperation:
- advanced technology: Both countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in programs such as Electric Propulsion Capacity Partnership (EPCP) and Jet Engine Advanced Core Technologies (JEACT), are central for technical cooperation in complex weapons systems.
- Marine Safety: He has also announced a plan to establish an excellence of a regional maritime security center as part of the initiative of Indo-Pacific oceans. It will serve as a capacity-building center for nations in the Indian Ocean region and address non-traditional maritime security threats.
- Military relations: Both countries plan to expand joint military exercises in land, air and sea. Military instructors will also be posted in each other’s training institutes. The UK confirmed its commitment to recognize India as a regional logistics hub for its armed forces.
- Research and Development: The joint R&D will focus on cooperation with educational institutions to promote underwater systems, directed energy weapons and innovation in defense technologies.
The British High Commission said that the partnership would also work towards increasing cyber flexibility and supporting cooperation on widespread issues such as migration. Officers from both sides see the roadmap as a long-term commitment to regional stability and a rule-based international order.This initiative creates complementary strength in the defense sector, offering a new route for industrial and technical cooperation in the coming decade.
