India, UK set to finalise defence tech exchange arrangement

In response to a written question in the House of Commons, UK Minister for Defence Procurement Mr. Jeremy Quin revealed that a Letter of Arrangement is being negotiated between the defence research agencies on both sides.

The United Kingdom and India are about to finalise a Letter of Arrangement between the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and India's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). According to the UK Minister for Defence Procurement Mr. Jeremy Quin, this will assist to offer improved security capabilities through collaborative research, co-design, co-development, and joint manufacture of defence technologies and equipment.

The joint declaration inked last month during British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to India includes a section on defence and security as a "key pillar" of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Among the highlights is an "open general export licence" to encourage technical interaction with India and an "open opportunity" for India to join the UK's aviation and navy shipbuilding programmes.

The leaders emphasised the importance of strong defence industrial collaboration for the manufacture of defence equipment, systems, spare parts, components, aggregates, and other related products and key capabilities under the Make-in-India programme through co-development, indigenization, technology transfer, and the formation of joint ventures to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of India and other countries.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.