India-UK Strategic Defence Cooperation

Source: Indian Express
GS II: International Relations- India-UK Bilateral Relations

Why in the News?

India and the UK are close to signing an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for developing maritime electric propulsion systems for four Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) of the Indian Navy.

News in Brief

• The cooperation is also expected to cover the development of Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) systems for future Indian naval vessels.
• A second inter-governmental agreement is expected for the procurement of British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) for the Indian Army.
• The LMM contract is expected to be worth around £350 million ($468 million), making India one of the largest customers for the missile.
• The cooperation reflects the broader India–UK defence partnership and Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives.

Key Highlights

• Maritime Electric Propulsion
  • India and the UK are close to signing an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to develop maritime electric propulsion systems for four Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) of the Indian Navy.
  • The proposed system is aimed at powering large Indian Navy warships with a displacement of over 6,000 tonnes.
  • The technology is expected to be tested first on LPDs before being considered for wider use.
  • The agreement is part of efforts to introduce advanced propulsion technologies into India’s naval fleet.

•  Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP)
  • Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) is a naval propulsion system in which electricity generated onboard is used to power the ship’s propulsion motors as well as other major systems.
  • Indian warships currently use a combination of diesel engines, gas turbines and steam turbines for propulsion.
  • The UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers use an integrated full electric propulsion system.
  • Developing such technology in India could help the Navy operate larger and more technologically advanced vessels in the future.
• Land-Based Testing Facility
  • GE Vernova and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) will establish India’s first maritime Land-Based Testing Facility.
  • The facility will support the development and testing of the IFEP system.
  • Testing the system on land before its installation on operational warships can help identify technical issues and reduce risks during deployment.
• Cooperation Framework
  • India and the UK signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) on cooperation in the design and development of electric propulsion systems for the Indian Navy in Portsmouth on 28 November 2024.
  • The Statement of Intent was signed during the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Electric Propulsion Capabilities Partnership.
  • It provides a framework for co-design, co-creation and co-production of electric propulsion capabilities for future Indian naval vessels.
  • The partnership therefore goes beyond procurement and focuses on developing capabilities through joint cooperation.
•  Naval Modernization
  • The proposed partnership is part of India’s broader naval fleet modernization efforts. It could support:
  • Adoption of electric propulsion systems in new-generation warships.
  • Retrofitting of selected legacy vessels with modern propulsion systems where technically feasible.
  • Greater cooperation with the UK in developing and adapting advanced warship propulsion technologies.

Defence Manufacturing And Atmanirbhar Bharat

• The India-Uk Cooperation has an important indigenization and defence- industrial cooperation dimension.
• The LLM arrangement is expected to support India’s air-defence capabilities while the electric propulsion partnership can promote,
  • Technology development
  • Domestics testing capabilities
  • Indian industrial participation
  • Long-term defence technology cooperation
  • Co-development and co-production
• The cooperation is therefore linked with the broader objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

Conclusion

The Partnership highlights the shift from a traditional buyer-seller model towards technology cooperation, co-development and co-production.

Its long-term success will depend on effective technology transfer, domestic manufacturing capabilities and sustained cooperation, strengthening India’s naval modernization and overall defence preparedness.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

With reference to India–UK cooperation in naval technology, consider the following statements:

1. India and the UK are cooperating on the development of electric propulsion systems for Indian Navy Landing Platform Docks.
2. Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) uses onboard-generated electricity to power propulsion motors and other major ship systems.
3. The Statement of Intent (SoI) between India and the UK provides a framework for co-design, co-creation and co-production of electric propulsion capabilities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains Practice Question

Q. Advanced defence technologies and international partnerships are crucial for strengthening India’s defence preparedness and self-reliance. Discuss (150 words)

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