Arjun Mk 1A main battle tank. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
The UK and India are set to finalise a Letter of Arrangement between the UK's Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
UK Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin confirmed the planned technology agreement in response to a written parliamentary question on 17 May.
Quin wrote: 'The UK and India are due to finalise a Letter of Arrangement between the UK's Defence Science & Technology Laboratory and India's Defence Research & Development Organisation.
'This will help to deliver advanced security capabilities through joint research, co-design, co-development and joint production of defence technology and systems.'
According to a joint UK-India statement published in late April, the Dstl-DRDO partnership will focus on 'key and emerging military technologies'.
During a visit to India in April, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a 'new and expanded' Defence and Security Partnership that he said would allow India to strengthen its domestic defence industry.
The two countries have established a joint working group on India-UK electric propulsion capability partnership to foster military and industrial collaboration on maritime electric propulsion systems.
To support defence and security collaboration with India over the next decade, the UK plans to issue an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) to India, reducing bureaucracy and shortening delivery times for defence procurement.
The OGEL is the UK's first in the Indo-Pacific.
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
Connect with us on socials
