By A Correspondent

Bengaluru (Karnataka): The United Kingdom on Feb. 10, 2025, announced that it has signed a Statement of Intent with India to design and develop an Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) system for the Indian next-generation Landing Platform Dock (LPD) fleet.

In a statement during AeroIndia 2025, the UK High Commission in India said GE Vernova and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) are working to develop India’s first maritime Land-Based Testing Facility to deliver the LPD by 2030.

“The UK-India strategic partnership has taken another major step forward with the formal launch of Defence Partnership – India (DP-I) and the signing of several defence agreements at Aero India 2025,” the UK High Commission’s statement said, coinciding with AeroIndia 2025.

Announcing the DP-I, UK Defence Minister Vernon Coaker opened the UK-India Defence Partnership Pavilion, establishing a dedicated programme office within the UK’s Ministry of Defence that will serve as a one-stop shop for strengthening bilateral defence collaboration between the two countries.

“It was a pleasure to visit India and continue to grow our already strong defence relationship. Our Defence Partnership and the UK-India Defence Partnership Pavilion will help strengthen our cooperation further, supporting economic growth in both our countries and India’s Atmanirbhar (Self-Reliance) ambition,” Vernon Coaker, UK Minister of State for Defence, said.

“This event (AeroIndia) showcases our collaboration in next-generation capability, and the massive potential the UK and India can unlock by working together.”

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said: “India is taking significant steps in its journey to becoming Atmanirbhar in its defence capabilities.

“The UK is really looking forward to working with India as a partner of choice in supporting this ambition: collaborating on defence technologies lies at the heart of this. These are landmark agreements that support our economic growth and joint security.”

In a separate development, MBDA UK and Bharat Dynamics Limited have been working together on the installation of a first-of-its-kind Advanced Short-Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM) assembly and test facility in Hyderabad, arming current fleet of India’s fighter jets as well as exporting to the world.

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