India and the United Kingdom are preparing to take another major step in defence-technology cooperation, with the two countries expected to sign an Inter-Governmental Agreement for the development of integrated electric propulsion systems for four Landing Platform Docks planned for the Indian Navy.

The proposed agreement represents a shift from conventional defence procurement toward joint technology development and industrial cooperation. British officials said the pact is expected to be concluded shortly, while negotiations between the two sides have been progressing through established working groups.

A New Propulsion Approach for Indian Warships

The programme will focus on Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP), a technology that uses electrical power generated aboard a ship to drive its propulsion system as well as other major electrical equipment.

The four Landing Platform Docks covered by the proposed agreement are planned to be constructed in India. The vessels are expected to become the first major Indian naval platforms to use this type of integrated electric propulsion architecture.

Indian warships currently rely on conventional propulsion arrangements involving systems such as diesel engines and gas turbines. The adoption of electric propulsion would therefore represent an important technological development for India’s future fleet.

Land-Based Testing Facility Planned

A major part of the cooperation involves establishing India’s first maritime land-based testing facility for the new propulsion technology.

British company GE Vernova is working with Indian public-sector engineering company Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) on the facility. The site will allow engineers to test and refine the integrated propulsion system on land before it is installed on naval vessels.

Testing complex systems on land can allow engineers to identify technical problems before they reach the shipbuilding stage, potentially reducing development risks and improving reliability.

Why Electric Propulsion Matters

Electric propulsion offers several potential advantages for modern warships.

A common electrical power architecture can provide naval designers with greater flexibility when distributing energy between propulsion and other systems. This becomes increasingly important as warships carry more powerful radar systems, electronic equipment, sensors and other energy-intensive technologies.

The approach can also improve the efficiency of ship operations because power generation and propulsion can be managed according to changing operational requirements.

For future naval vessels, having a large and flexible electrical power supply could become increasingly important as advanced technologies require more onboard energy.

India’s Push for Indigenous Capability

The proposed agreement is also significant because India is seeking greater domestic capability in advanced defence technologies.

The cooperation builds on a Statement of Intent signed in Portsmouth in November 2024, which established a framework for India and the UK to work together on the co-design, co-creation and co-production of electric propulsion capabilities for future Indian naval vessels.

The arrangement is therefore intended to go beyond simply importing an existing foreign system. It aims to help develop technical knowledge and industrial capability within India’s own defence and shipbuilding ecosystem.

This approach fits India’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy, which seeks to increase domestic production and reduce dependence on overseas suppliers for strategically important defence equipment.

Wider India-UK Defence Cooperation

The propulsion programme is part of a much broader expansion in defence cooperation between New Delhi and London.

At the 25th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting in New Delhi earlier this month, both sides reviewed defence-industrial cooperation under the India-UK Vision 2035 and the Ten-Year Defence Industrial Roadmap. They also agreed to strengthen military exchanges, training and capacity building.

The two governments have identified advanced technologies, maritime security and defence industrial cooperation as important areas for the future relationship.

The electric-propulsion partnership is therefore one component of a wider attempt to build long-term industrial links rather than relying only on individual equipment purchases.

Possible Future Applications

The technology could eventually have applications beyond the four Landing Platform Docks.

British officials have indicated that discussions are also examining India’s broader naval modernization programme, including the possibility of applying electric propulsion technology to other future warships and potentially retrofitting certain existing vessels.

If successfully developed, domestic expertise in electric propulsion could become an important part of India’s future naval engineering capabilities.

A Strategic Partnership at Sea

For Britain, closer cooperation with India provides an opportunity to contribute to the modernization of one of the world’s largest navies while developing long-term industrial partnerships.

For India, the collaboration offers access to British experience in sophisticated electric propulsion while supporting domestic engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

The partnership also has a broader strategic dimension. Both countries have emphasized maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and have been expanding naval exercises, training and defence cooperation.

What Comes Next?

The immediate milestone will be the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement. After that, detailed technical development, testing and industrial work will determine how quickly the propulsion system can move from concept to operational naval platforms.

The creation of the land-based testing facility will be particularly important because it provides an environment in which the integrated system can be evaluated before installation aboard ships.

If the programme progresses successfully, it could establish a new technological foundation for India’s future large warships and demonstrate how the India-UK relationship is evolving from traditional defence procurement toward joint development and production.