UK looking for business in India

UK companies involved in some of the most cutting edge technologies in the global land and maritime sectors are exhibiting at Defexpo 2012, some visiting for the first time and others returning after a successful Defexpo 2010. The UK theme is "partnership" as UK companies look to strengthen the existing partnerships and building new industrial partnerships with companies in India.

The UK delegation is led by Gerald Howarth, Minister for International Security Strategy. In February, Minister Howarth led the largest ever defence trade delegation of 25 companies to India. Its primary aim was to forge longterm joint ventures with Indian industry and many of the UK businessmen have returned to Defexpo to do just that.

Collaboration between Indian and UK defence science and technology experts has been enhanced following the signing last September of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the heads of DRDO and the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. This arrangement will facilitate joint defence research projects in the near- and mediumterm of mutual interest.

The UK pavilion in Hall 11 at Defexpo will feature a range of significant land and maritime capabilities which are in tune with current Indian requirements. The UK delegation will include experts from the British Army and Royal Navy.

The land capabilities include: very short-range air defence missile systems; future infantry soldier equipment; a range of state-of-the-art chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) systems and force protection and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technologies. Many of these have been designed taking into account lessons learned from recent combat operations.

The maritime capabilities include: future frigate designs and development; latest destroyer major systems and sub-systems; integrated full electric propulsion solutions; submarine rescue; swimmer delivery systems and protection of ports, anchorages and offshore platforms.

UK companies exhibiting at Defexpo 2012 include: Babcock, Bruker, Caterpillar, Emerson, Goodrich, ISTEC Services Ltd, MS Instruments, Pearson Engineering, Strongfield Technologies, Techtest Ltd, and Ultra Electronics.