India, UK launch defence tech group for autonomous and uncrewed systems

India and the UK have launched an industry-led working group on autonomous and uncrewed defence systems. The forum aims to convert bilateral roadmaps into joint development, manufacturing and technology partnerships.Image used for representational purposes onlyIndia and the UK have announced a new joint industry-led initiative to deepen collaboration in defence and technology. The India-UK Autonomous Platforms and Uncrewed Systems Working Group was unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow in England this week.The new group is intended to bring together companies, innovators, researchers and industry experts from both countries to explore opportunities in autonomous and uncrewed technologies, including underwater systems. It sits within the UK India Business Council-Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers Joint Working Group framework and supports the ambitions of the India-UK Defence Industrial Roadmap, a key part of the bilateral Vision 2035 partnership.SIDM Director General K Ramesh said, "This inaugural Subworking Group provides the vital operational framework needed to translate high-level government roadmaps into tangible industrial outcomes." He added, "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."The Working Group has been tasked with identifying practical opportunities for collaboration in 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 speed up 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." He added, "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 and Resilience at ADS Group, will serve as co-chair of the group on the UK side, while Sameer Joshi, CEO and Director of NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt Ltd, will be her Indian counterpart. The Working Group will meet regularly and will be jointly supported by SIDM, a not-for-profit defence industry association, and UKIBC, a not-for-profit focused on policy advocacy and strategic consulting. The group will report to the wider Joint Working Group and is set to be the first of several capability-focused groups aimed at advancing the Defence Industrial Roadmap and strengthening cooperation in areas of shared strategic interest between India and the UK.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 22, 2026 20:44 IST