India and U.K. on Thursday agreed to extend cooperation on developing advanced defence products such as gas turbine engine and air defence missile systems, said visiting U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon.
Collaboration is under way between engine maker Rolls Royce and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the engine technology.
“We also agreed to extend our defence equipment cooperation to enable Indian defence companies in developing of new technologies such as gas turbine engines and air defence missile systems,” Mr. Fallon said.
This decision comes within weeks of Rolls Royce admitting in a London court to have illegally engaged middlemen to swing defence deals in India and settled the issue by paying a hefty fine.
When asked about the issue, Mr. Fallon said it did not come in his discussions with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley.
“The next step is to have a technology demonstrator in 12 months,” said Stephen Phipson, Head of Defence and Security Organisation which he said would be the “highest thrust gas turbine engine.”
Details of work share and quantum of investment are yet to be worked out.
Engine cooperation is a significant development given India’s troubled history in developing an aircraft engine. The Kaveri project which was shelved is in the process being revived with help from Safran of France.
On carrier cooperation Mr. Fallon said that the both countries are in advanced stages of construction and stated that there is much to share on “how to complete the construction,” on the working of the carriers and “preparing them sea and aviation trails.”
India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant is in advanced stage of construction and will be launched for sea trails by end 2018. A second indigenous carrier weighting about 65,000 tonnes is presently in the design stage.
UK is currently building two carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Whales and the former will begin sea trials this year and the later a year from now.
India and the US have joint working groups on jet engine technology and carrier technology under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).
