India and UK Near Landmark Deal for Martlet Missiles as Defence Cooperation Deepens

India and the United Kingdom are moving closer to signing a landmark Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the procurement of British-made Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), widely known as Martlet, for the Indian Army. The development comes as New Delhi and London continue to deepen defence-industrial cooperation and expand collaboration across advanced military technologies.

The two countries are in the final stages of concluding an agreement for the LMM system. The proposed procurement builds on the government-to-government arrangement announced in October 2025 for British-made Lightweight Multirole Missiles for the Indian Army. The original deal was valued at around £350 million, while British officials have indicated that the number of missiles planned for India has increased significantly.

The Martlet, manufactured by Thales in Belfast, is a lightweight precision missile designed for multiple roles, including countering low-flying aircraft, drones and other aerial threats. Its flexibility also allows it to be deployed against selected light armoured and maritime targets, making it a versatile addition to tactical air-defence capabilities.

Weighing approximately 13 kilograms, the LMM is around 1.3 metres long and uses laser beam-riding guidance. The missile can reach speeds of around Mach 1.5 and has an effective range of more than 6 kilometres. Its relatively compact design allows it to be launched from different platforms, including shoulder-fired and tripod-mounted systems, vehicles, helicopters and naval platforms.

For the Indian Army, the planned acquisition is particularly significant amid the growing importance of short-range air defence and counter-drone capabilities. The proliferation of unmanned aerial systems in modern conflicts has increased the demand for mobile and precision weapons capable of engaging small and low-flying targets. The Martlet’s multi-platform design could provide Indian tactical units with an additional layer of protection against such threats.

The missile has already gained operational experience with British forces. The UK Ministry of Defence has described the LMM as a battle-proven weapon, noting its use against drone attacks in the Middle East. Additional British orders in 2026 have been aimed at increasing missile stocks and strengthening counter-unmanned aircraft capabilities.

The proposed Indian acquisition is also part of a broader effort to strengthen the India-UK strategic defence relationship. In October 2025, the two governments announced plans for government-to-government procurement of LMM systems while also highlighting the objective of developing long-term cooperation on complex weapons. The arrangement was presented as supporting India’s air-defence requirements while contributing to the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat framework through future industrial collaboration.

The latest movement on the Martlet agreement comes shortly after the 25th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting held in New Delhi on August 21. During the meeting, both sides reviewed ongoing defence-industrial cooperation, with particular emphasis on research and development under the India-UK Vision 2035 and the ten-year Defence Industrial Roadmap. They also agreed to expand military exchanges, joint exercises, training and capacity-building activities.

The missile agreement is expected to be one component of a wider expansion in defence cooperation between the two countries. British officials have also indicated progress towards cooperation on maritime electric propulsion systems for future Indian Navy platforms. A separate agreement related to electric propulsion for four Landing Platform Docks is also expected to strengthen technology and industrial ties between the two countries.

For the UK, the Indian order would represent an important international opportunity for the LMM programme and further support production at Thales’ Belfast facility. The British government has previously highlighted the role of LMM production in sustaining skilled jobs and strengthening its domestic defence-industrial base.

For India, the agreement would add another modern short-range precision weapon to its growing air-defence architecture while providing an opportunity to deepen cooperation with a major Western defence partner. If concluded as expected, the Martlet procurement could therefore become an important milestone in the evolving India-UK defence partnership, linking immediate military requirements with longer-term cooperation in advanced weapon systems.