For the 1st time, UK Defence and Security Exports met with Indian firms practically to strengthen the UK-India Defence and Internal Security Partnership and to determine co-improvement possibilities for UK and Indian business. In the 3-hour extended UK- India Counter Explosive Ordnance (C-EO) Virtual Symposium, there was a big participation of about 35 Counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) specialists from Indian Security Forces. This is the 1st time UK DSE has assembled a big congregation of C-EO specialists from Indian safety agencies.
Sources have confirmed to the TheSpuzz Online that, “The meeting had taken place recently virtually and both sides are keen to share best practice between the UK and Indian security/defence agencies on C-EO.”
“This meeting was initially planned following a Subject Matter Expertise Exchange request from Indian Ministry of Defence during the November 2019 Defence Consultative Group meeting. The focus was also on further deepening cooperation and seeking opportunities for joint ventures,” sources quoted above added.
In February 2021, in collaboration with UKIBC and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, will be meeting to assistance UK firms with viable ‘Make in India’ partners to cater to nearby needs. Given the interest from Indian safety forces, UK DSE plans a additional B2B occasion.
Next year the UK DSE also plans to conduct a equivalent occasion on the theme of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS).
UK Company Participation:
There had been 23 firms expressing participation interest. And only nine had been chosen to participate: Kirintec United Shield Brimstone Site Investigation 3D X-Ray NIC Instruments Pearson Engineering Alford Technologies Richmond Defence System and ISSEE.
What was the significance of this Virtual Symposium?
First it took spot ahead of the confirmed pay a visit to of the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the chief guest for the Republic Day Celebrations subsequent month.
According to UNICEF, one particular casualty every single twenty minutes is triggered by explosive weapons.
These explosive weapons which include things like traditional munition or improvised explosive are component of the modern day day conflict and regarded to be a threat globally for millions.
The Counter-EO UK and the Indian firms could collectively assistance in dealing with this menace of explosives which is a big difficulty all across the globe.
According to Mark Goldsack , Director, UK Defence & Security Exports “India and the UK have suffered the threat posed by the use of explosive devices — whether at home or overseas. And in response to this the two countries have developed skilled organisations and industry capable of removing or reducing the threat from explosive ordnance, including IEDs.”
“ It is essential that these organisations work together to better develop C-EO capabilities in order to be effective in the ‘five pillars’ of C-EO – Prevent, Protect, Detect, Defeat and Exploit,” he added.
With decades of encounter of countering complicated domestic and international explosive ordnance threats, Indian firms could play a important part in dealing with this threat right here in the nation.
“The UK is at the forefront of C-EO capability and remains the ‘2nd largest defence exporter (on a rolling 10 year basis)’ and an ideal partner for India as we both strive to address the threats and challenges posed by explosive ordnance.”