The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) have announced a new joint industry-led initiative aimed at deepening defence and technology collaboration.

The India-UK Autonomous Platforms and Uncrewed Systems Working Group, unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow in England this week, is designed to bring together companies, innovators, researchers and industry experts from both countries to explore opportunities in autonomous and uncrewed technologies, including underwater systems.

The initiative sits within the UKIBC-SIDM Joint Working Group framework and supports the ambitions of the India-UK Defence Industrial Roadmap, a key element of the bilateral Vision 2035 partnership.

“This inaugural Subworking Group provides the vital operational framework needed to translate high-level government roadmaps into tangible industrial outcomes," said SIDM Director General K Ramesh.

“By establishing a sustained environment for close cooperation, we are enabling our respective defence industries to build a powerful ecosystem for mutual business. As our first pilot under the Joint Industry Working Group, this initiative will pave the way for launching similar capability-focused groups across other critical defence sectors,” he said.

The Working Group is charged with focussing on identifying practical opportunities for collaboration across areas such as joint development, manufacturing partnerships, supply-chain integration and technology innovation.

By creating a dedicated forum for engagement, it aims to help organisations from both countries build long-term partnerships and accelerate the development of future capabilities.

UKIBC Group CEO Dr Kishore Jayaraman said: “The UK and India are both investing in the technologies that will shape the future of defence. This Working Group provides a platform for industry, academia and innovators to come together, identify real opportunities for collaboration and turn ambition into tangible outcomes.

“We look forward to seeing new partnerships emerge and capabilities developed through closer cooperation between our two countries.”

Dr Helen Almey, Head of Capability Engagement – National Security & Resilience, ADS Group, will serve as the co-chair of the group on the UK side and Sameer Joshi, CEO & Director of NewSpace Research & Technologies Pvt Ltd, will be her Indian counterpart.

The Working Group will meet regularly and be jointly supported by the SIDM – a not-for-profit defence industry association, and the UKIBC – a policy advocacy and strategic consulting not-for-profit.

It will report to the wider Joint Working Group and serve as the first of a number of capability-focused groups designed to advance the Defence Industrial Roadmap and strengthen cooperation in areas of shared strategic interest within the India-UK corridor.