The UK Ministry of Defence invites UK SMEs to join the UK Defence MSMEs Trade Mission to India from 10th to 16th May 2026.
Following a successful series of bilateral engagements in 2025, culminating in the UK–India Defence Industrial Roadmap (DIR) and the Vision 2035 framework agreed by both countries’ Prime Ministers, opportunities for collaboration between UK defence companies and the Indian market have never been stronger. India is actively seeking international partnerships to strengthen its domestic defence ecosystem, accelerate technology transfer, and promote joint development and manufacturing initiatives.
This mission aligns with the DIR’s objectives by:
- Building a resilient UK–India defence industrial partnership
- Enabling capability collaboration across priority domains
- Fostering innovative research and development cooperation
Mission Overview
This seven-day trade mission will take you to New Delhi, Pune, and Bengaluru, covering India’s key defence hubs. Participation in this trade mission offers UK SMEs a unique platform to engage directly with key Indian stakeholders, explore market entry strategies, and position themselves as trusted partners in India’s evolving defence landscape. UK companies will be provided with a unique opportunity to:
- Engage directly with key Indian government, military, and industry
stakeholders - Explore market entry strategies and procurement opportunities
- Pitch your capabilities as trusted partners in India’s evolving defence
landscape - Align with India’s requirements for local content and co-production in defence
contracts
A pre-mission briefing will be organised to help participants—especially first-time travellers to India—prepare for cultural, regulatory, and business engagement.
Highlights
- Market access & supply-chain integration: High-impact SIDM–UKIBC MSME Partnership Forum with UK SME pitches to Indian primes/MSMEs and MoD; structured B2B matchmaking in Delhi, Pune, and Bengaluru.
- Policy & procedure insight: Interaction with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) on Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) to orient UK SMEs on procurement pathways.
- Industrial immersion: Site/leadership interactions with Bharat Forge, Mahindra Defence, L&T, and HAL to explore partnership opportunities.
- Network building: Two high-level receptions (New Delhi & Bengaluru) to connect UK SMEs with senior stakeholders across government, industry, and armed forces.
Priority Opportunity Areas
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
- Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems
- Precision Manufacturing
- Sensors
- Avionics
Registration Details
Fee: £495 + VAT for up to two delegates per company; Additional delegates: Please contact us for details
Visa: Representatives are advised to apply for Indian visas as early as possible. Letters of invitation can be provided upon request.
How to Register:
To express interest, please contact:
Dominic Taylor, Senior Desk Officer, International Collaborations & Exports, UK Ministry of Defence
- Email: Dominic.Taylor@businessandtrade.gov.uk
- Phone: +44 7514 803 383
Deadline to express interest is 28th February – find out more here.