BAE Systems has confirmed that it has started talks with India about a possible joint programme featuring the UK company’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier
Key points
- India and the UK aim to ‘redouble efforts’ to pursue opportunities related to defence equipment and defence industrial collaboration
Indian and the UK have signed a renewed defence accord through which the two countries have agreed to ‘redouble efforts’ to identify mutual defence requirements and collaborate on solutions, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.
An MoD statement on 15thApril said the renewed memorandum of understanding (MOU) ‘marks a step change’ in the defence relationship between India and the UK, with emphasis on collaboration on defence procurement and industrial co-operation.
‘By collaborating and exploiting procurement opportunities together both nations will be able to benefit from technological and manufacturing capabilities and support long-term co-operation between their defence and security industries,’ the UK MoD said.
The MoD also indicated that a focus of the agreement will be to explore opportunities in naval systems. The MoD also pointed out that the MOU was signed following a visit by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to the UK Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth