Aero Show: UK looking for B2B partnerships in defence

The United Kingdom is looking for more industrial partnerships between the British and Indian companies in the defence sector.

"We are looking for greater industrial co-operation between Indian and British companies. In fact, we are looking at a situation where Indian companies can become suppliers to the British army as well," a senior UK government official told DH, requesting anonymity.

The official also said that the Make In India programme is expected to give an impetus to such B2B partnerships.

"We have our delegation at the aero show. We have been talking to even SMEs in India and telling them to explore Britain as a market," the official added.

Of the total defence procurement budget in the UK, 40% of the budget is spent on non-UK companies. In 2017-18, UK's defence budget stood at £35,948 million.

In fact, UK-based aircraft manufacturer BAE Systems has been a long-standing partner of Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the manufacture of Hawk aircrafts.

The British, at this aero show, are offering India partnership in the conceptualisation and development of what they call a ‘sixth-generation’ combat aircraft. The new fighter to be developed – for which the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has formed a project team named ‘Tempest’ -- will build on the Typhoon and build in some futuristic technologies and warfighting concepts. The Eurofighter Typhoon was one of two fighters that the IAF had shortlisted in the MMRCA process.