India and the UK Sign Agreement to Develop Electric Propulsion Systems for Naval Ships.

International

India and the United Kingdom (UK) have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to jointly design and develop electric propulsion systems for the Indian Navy (IN), marking a significant step towards enhancing naval capabilities.


      - The agreement was signed during the third Joint Working Group on Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership (JWG EPCP) meeting in Portsmouth, UK. It underscores the commitment to promote indigenous development of advanced technologies for the Indian Navy.

      - The SoI was exchanged between India’s Joint Secretary (Naval Systems) Rajeev Prakash and Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy, Director of Ships Operations and Capability Integration, UK Ministry of Defence.

      - The agreement follows the visit of Catherine West, the British Minister for Indo-Pacific, to India in November 2024, which further reinforced the defence cooperation between the two countries.

Main Point :-   (i) The SoI will serve as a framework for cooperation in the co-design, co-creation, and co-production of electric propulsion systems for future naval ships, promoting joint technological advancements.

      (ii) The deal also opens the door for the use of Rolls-Royce MT-30 gas turbines in Indian warships. These turbines are already in use by the UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, known for their power and efficiency.

(iii) The first project under this collaboration will involve the construction of Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) with a Full Electric Propulsion System at an Indian shipyard. Currently, the Indian Navy uses propulsion systems from the USA, Russia, and Ukraine in many of its ships.
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PM : Keir Starmer
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