Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic discussion on Thursday with the UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, to review ongoing collaborations in cutting-edge defence technologies. The conversation highlighted the “excellent progress” in key areas, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
“The two Ministers briefly discussed the ongoing defence cooperation issues and emphasised the need to maintain the momentum in the bilateral relations,” the MoD said in a statement.
The leaders accessed advancements in electric propulsion and jet engine technologies and expressed satisfaction with the recent signing of a Statement of Intent (SoI) on Electric Propulsion.
“Defence Minister and UK Secretary of State for Defence reviewed the excellent progress made between the two countries in niche defence technology areas such as Electric Propulsion and jet engines,” Defence Ministry said.
The Statement of Intent, signed on November 29 last year in Portsmouth, laid the groundwork for collaboration on Electric Propulsion Systems for the Indian Navy. This agreement seeks to establish a framework for co-designing, co-developing, and co-producing electric propulsion capabilities for future naval vessels.
Additionally, the Ministers reviewed ongoing programmes, including the exchange of military instructors between training institutes in both countries. With the UK increasing its strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific region, both sides aim to explore joint initiatives and strengthen maritime engagements in 2025, the Ministry noted.
The year 2024 marked a milestone in India-UK defence and strategic relations. Rajnath Singh became the first Indian Defence Minister in 22 years to visit the UK, leading a high-level delegation in January. His visit focused on advancing cooperation in defence, security, and industrial development. The previous visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the UK occurred in January 2002.
Team BharatShakti
