In a significant step toward bolstering bilateral defence ties, India and the United Kingdom have jointly launched the Vision 2035 Defence Industrial Roadmap, a decade-long plan to strengthen cooperation in advanced defence manufacturing and technology. The initiative marks a shift from traditional buyer-seller dynamics to co-development and co-production, reinforcing a rules-based international order.
The roadmap focuses on key strategic domains, including:
- Jet Engine Advanced Core Technologies (JEACT) for next-generation aircraft
- Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership (EPCP) for future-ready naval platforms
- Complex weapons systems and precision-guided munitions
- Cyber defence, resilience, and AI-based security frameworks
- Underwater warfare systems and directed energy weapons
- Maritime domain awareness and joint naval operations
One of the central outcomes is the proposal to set up a Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence under India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI), reinforcing India’s pivotal role in regional maritime stability.
Both countries have agreed to leverage academic and industrial capabilities, promoting research and innovation through defence start-ups, MSMEs, and strategic industry partners. UK-based BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce are expected to work with Indian counterparts like HAL and DRDO on critical tech transfers and collaborative design efforts.
As part of the roadmap, India will serve as a key logistics hub for British forces operating in the Indo-Pacific, facilitating joint training, maintenance, and rapid deployment readiness. The initiative also includes expansion of military education exchanges, including courses at the National Defence College (India) and Defence Academy (UK).
“Vision 2035 represents a maturing of the India–UK strategic defence relationship, grounded in trust, shared values, and a commitment to collaborative innovation,” a joint statement by both governments said.
This partnership complements the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2021 and aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision in defence manufacturing.
With growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and increasing strategic convergence between New Delhi and London, Vision 2035 is a timely and forward-looking blueprint to shape the future of global defence cooperation.
