New Delhi/Mumbai, October 10, 2025
In a landmark move signaling deepening strategic ties, India and the United Kingdom have finalized a £350 million ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian Army with advanced Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), known as Martlets, along with associated launchers. The agreement, announced on the final day of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's inaugural official visit to India, underscores a burgeoning defence partnership aimed at enhancing India's self-reliance in military technology while injecting fresh momentum into bilateral relations.
The deal, inked between Thales Air Defence—a Belfast-based arm of the French-UK defence giant Thales—and India's Ministry of Defence, will deliver the missiles and launchers to fortify the Indian Army's capabilities against emerging threats like drones and low-flying aerial targets. Manufactured at Thales' facility in Northern Ireland, the LMM system weighs just 13 kilograms and boasts an operational range exceeding 6 kilometers, hurtling through the air at speeds surpassing 1.5 times the speed of sound. This multirole weapon can be deployed from air or surface platforms for air-to-air, air-to-surface, surface-to-air, or surface-to-surface engagements, sharing technological DNA with the high-velocity Starstreak missile. Its versatility makes it ideal for countering unmanned aerial vehicles, armored vehicles, and other dynamic battlefield hazards, aligning seamlessly with India's push for agile, next-generation air defence under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The contract not only meets immediate operational needs but also paves the way for a broader "complex weapons partnership" currently under negotiation between the two nations. It follows a February agreement between Thales and Indian firm Bharat Dynamics Limited for a laser-guided, man-portable air-defence system, including initial Starstreak supplies. On the economic front, the deal is set to safeguard over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland, mirroring a £1.6 billion UK order for similar systems to aid Ukraine—where LMM units have already proven effective in real-world combat.
The announcement came amid high-level talks in Mumbai, where Starmer, accompanied by a 125-strong business delegation, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to elevate the "living bridge" of India-UK relations. In a joint statement, the two leaders hailed the pact as a "significant boost" for collaborative defence innovation. "This agreement will further support India's air defence capabilities and, in the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, meet the current and future requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defence," the statement read, emphasizing long-term co-development opportunities.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey, who played a pivotal role in the negotiations, described the milestone as a catalyst for mutual growth. "The defence deals announced today show how our growing strategic partnership with India will boost UK business and jobs," Healey posted on social media. "I am hopeful this will pave the way for a deeper relationship between our two defence industries, particularly in the development of electric engines for naval ships and in air defence. As we deepen our defence relationship with India, we will harness the UK defence industry as an engine for growth, securing vital jobs in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK."
For India, the infusion of Western-sourced precision weaponry marks a subtle pivot from traditional Russian suppliers, with the UK now eyeing a larger slice of New Delhi's vast defence import market—currently holding just over 3% despite India being the world's second-largest arms buyer. The LMM acquisition complements recent Indo-Pacific deployments, such as the Royal Navy's integration of complementary Sea Venom missiles on Wildcat helicopters aboard HMS Prince of Wales, hinting at potential joint exercises or tech transfers down the line.
Complementing the missile deal, India and the UK also signed an Implementing Agreement to advance a £250 million industrial collaboration on electric propulsion systems for Indian Navy vessels, building on a November 2024 statement of intent between their defence ministries. This dual-pronged approach reflects the 2021 Roadmap 2030's focus on defence and security as pillars of partnership, amid shared concerns over regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
As the ink dries on this pact, analysts see it as more than a transactional win—it's a strategic bridge in an era of geopolitical flux. "From Belfast factories to Indian frontlines, this deal exemplifies how innovation can underpin alliances," noted Phil Baty, a defence policy expert. With negotiations for a free trade agreement progressing in parallel, the Modi-Starmer summit has set the stage for even bolder collaborations, potentially reshaping South Asian security dynamics.
For further details on the LMM system, visit Thales' official resources. As Healey aptly put it, this is "how we are making the UK defence industry an engine for growth"—and, by extension, a propeller for Indo-British resilience.
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