Anil Chauhan begins first official UK visit, defence cooperation in focus

The United Kingdom is hosting the first official visit by India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan , with discussions expected to focus on strengthening defence cooperation, military training and industrial collaboration between the two countries.

General Chauhan arrived in London on Sunday for a three-day visit and is being hosted by UK Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton . During the visit, the two sides will hold discussions covering military training, operational cooperation and defence industry partnerships , while also engaging with senior UK civil and military leaders to deepen bilateral defence ties.

British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said the visit reflects the strong trust and ambition driving the growing partnership between the two countries. She said the UK and India are stepping up cooperation to strengthen interoperability, spur innovation and support a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific . Cameron noted that India is a key defence partner for the UK and that collaboration through joint training, defence industry cooperation and strategic dialogue will continue to expand.

During the visit, General Chauhan is scheduled to meet representatives of the British defence industry to advance discussions on greater defence co-production and industrial collaboration . He will also visit the Royal College of Defence Studies in London , where he will interact with a multinational group of officers undergoing higher defence training.

Commodore Chris Saunders , Defence Adviser at the British High Commission, said the visit signals the progress made in bilateral defence engagement and provides an opportunity to expand military-to-military cooperation and training ambitions. He added that both countries are exploring ways to strengthen defence industrial collaboration as an “engine for growth” while supporting India’s path to self-reliance .

The visit follows a series of high-level military engagements between the two nations, including the recent visit of UK Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth to India last month .

Defence cooperation between the two countries has gained momentum since the launch of a 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap under the India-UK Vision 2035 agreement , aimed at boosting defence industry growth, strengthening security and contributing to international stability. The UK Ministry of Defence has also established a Defence Partnership-India programme office to drive bilateral defence collaboration.

Earlier this year, India and the UK signed an agreement allowing the Indian Air Force to deploy three Qualified Flying Instructors to RAF Valley , the British training base for fast-jet pilots. Indian officers are currently embedded as instructors across all three UK service academies.

Military engagement has also expanded through exercises. Last year both countries conducted their largest-ever maritime exercise involving carrier strike groups , including a separate air-defence drill with aircraft from the Royal Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. The cooperation was followed by Exercise Ajeya Warrior in Rajasthan , where troops from the UK’s 2nd Royal Gurkha Rifles trained alongside India’s 21 Sikh Regiment.