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‘UK’s Make in India expertise in def more than any other country’
Rajat Pandit | TNN | Feb 19, 2016, 05.19 AM IST
The UK made a renewed push for strategic partnership with India after it had earlier failed to win the contract for the mega 126 fighter project
The UK may have lost out in the race to supply fighter jets to IAF, but it remains quite gung-ho about stepping up its international strategic partnership with India as well as the "Make in India" policy. This has gained momentum after PM Narendra Modi's visit to the UK last November, visiting British minister of state for defence procurement Philip Dunne tells TOI. Excerpts:
What brings you to India?
This is my second visit to India. I attended the Aero-India at Bangalore in 2013. I am also looking forward to the Def-Expo at Goa next month. After the very important visit by PM Modi to the UK, at which PMs Cameron and Modi signed a defence and strategic partnership agreement, I have been tasked by our defence secretary (Michael Fallon) to provide some impetus to the agreement, give it some teeth. So, I came to invite defence minister Manohar Parrikar to the UK, set up some strategic direction and identify areas where we can collaborate. There are some areas where India has a clear expertise that we would like to benefit from, and vice-versa.
How do you see the international security situation and the emerging threats?
We were elected on a manifesto to restore defence and security as a government priority. We are increasing defence spending. Our analysis is that there are common threats being faced by many nations, including democracies like the UK and India. At one level, there is the ever-growing threat of terrorism. At the other, it's more assertiveness by countries like Russia and China. So, we need to be in a position to respond to the entire spectrum of threats. It will require more international collaboration. We see India playing an increasingly important role.
What do you have to say about China's aggression in the South China Sea?
The role security plays in freedom of navigation, freedom of trade is vital to all trading nations like the UK, India and even China. For many years, we have been present in the Gulf with mine-hunting naval capability in order to ensure safe passage around the Strait of Hormuz. We have decided to establish a permanent naval base at Bahrain, the first permanent military base for the UK, east of Suez, since the 1970s. It will allow the Royal Navy to have a permanent presence on the edge of the Indian Ocean. We have also been active for years in the international effort to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia. Indian Navy has been an important contributor to this effort as well.
The Modi government has really been pushing the Make in India policy. Are there any concrete proposals for collaboration?
We recognise this is a legitimate aspiration for India to encourage collaboration to develop in-country capabilities, building skills and employment prospects. We have a similar agenda in the UK. So, we share that objective. Some of the best examples of Make in India in the defence world are with the UK, like Jaguar fighters and Hawk advanced jet trainers. Rolls-Royce is another good example.
There is this proposal to upgrade the Hawk trainers into combat Hawks, with missiles, guns, rockets.We think that's a clever way to develop some additional air combat capability. We will be very interested in discussing it.
‘UK’s Make in India expertise in def more than any other country’ - Times of India
@PARIKRAMA , @Abingdonboy et al. Never knew India was planning to upgrade its hawk to combat role. Good initiative. Plus i heard British Aerospace systems American branch has signed a $694-million deal for the supply of 145 M777 howitzers to India with an Indian firm? I suppose they will be built in India?
Hopefully our military relations/ties will keep soaring higher.
Rajat Pandit | TNN | Feb 19, 2016, 05.19 AM IST
The UK made a renewed push for strategic partnership with India after it had earlier failed to win the contract for the mega 126 fighter project
The UK may have lost out in the race to supply fighter jets to IAF, but it remains quite gung-ho about stepping up its international strategic partnership with India as well as the "Make in India" policy. This has gained momentum after PM Narendra Modi's visit to the UK last November, visiting British minister of state for defence procurement Philip Dunne tells TOI. Excerpts:
What brings you to India?
This is my second visit to India. I attended the Aero-India at Bangalore in 2013. I am also looking forward to the Def-Expo at Goa next month. After the very important visit by PM Modi to the UK, at which PMs Cameron and Modi signed a defence and strategic partnership agreement, I have been tasked by our defence secretary (Michael Fallon) to provide some impetus to the agreement, give it some teeth. So, I came to invite defence minister Manohar Parrikar to the UK, set up some strategic direction and identify areas where we can collaborate. There are some areas where India has a clear expertise that we would like to benefit from, and vice-versa.
How do you see the international security situation and the emerging threats?
We were elected on a manifesto to restore defence and security as a government priority. We are increasing defence spending. Our analysis is that there are common threats being faced by many nations, including democracies like the UK and India. At one level, there is the ever-growing threat of terrorism. At the other, it's more assertiveness by countries like Russia and China. So, we need to be in a position to respond to the entire spectrum of threats. It will require more international collaboration. We see India playing an increasingly important role.
What do you have to say about China's aggression in the South China Sea?
The role security plays in freedom of navigation, freedom of trade is vital to all trading nations like the UK, India and even China. For many years, we have been present in the Gulf with mine-hunting naval capability in order to ensure safe passage around the Strait of Hormuz. We have decided to establish a permanent naval base at Bahrain, the first permanent military base for the UK, east of Suez, since the 1970s. It will allow the Royal Navy to have a permanent presence on the edge of the Indian Ocean. We have also been active for years in the international effort to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia. Indian Navy has been an important contributor to this effort as well.
The Modi government has really been pushing the Make in India policy. Are there any concrete proposals for collaboration?
We recognise this is a legitimate aspiration for India to encourage collaboration to develop in-country capabilities, building skills and employment prospects. We have a similar agenda in the UK. So, we share that objective. Some of the best examples of Make in India in the defence world are with the UK, like Jaguar fighters and Hawk advanced jet trainers. Rolls-Royce is another good example.
There is this proposal to upgrade the Hawk trainers into combat Hawks, with missiles, guns, rockets.We think that's a clever way to develop some additional air combat capability. We will be very interested in discussing it.
‘UK’s Make in India expertise in def more than any other country’ - Times of India
@PARIKRAMA , @Abingdonboy et al. Never knew India was planning to upgrade its hawk to combat role. Good initiative. Plus i heard British Aerospace systems American branch has signed a $694-million deal for the supply of 145 M777 howitzers to India with an Indian firm? I suppose they will be built in India?
Hopefully our military relations/ties will keep soaring higher.
