08102025 HMS Richmond as she makes her way into Indria Docks in Mumbai, India CREDIT ROYAL NAVY — HMS Richmond as she makes her way into Indria Docks in Mumbai, India (Picture: Royal Navy)

08102025 HMS Richmond arrives in Mumbai, India CREDIT ROYAL NAVY — HMS Richmond arrives in Mumbai (Picture: Royal Navy)

08102025 Dock workers prepare the jetty for HMS Richmond coming alongside CREDIT ROYAL NAVY — Dock workers prepare the jetty for HMS Richmond coming alongside (Picture: Royal Navy)

08102025 Commodore James Blackmore taking a tour of Flight Deck INS Vikrant CREDIT ROYAL NAVY — Commodore James Blackmore taking a tour of Flight Deck INS Vikrant (Picture: Royal Navy)

08102025 Konkan 25 welcome brief onboard INS Vikrant CREDIT ROYAL NAVY

08102025 Crew from HMS Richmond raise the Union Jack as the ship comes alongside CREDIT ROYAL NAVY — Konkan 25 welcome brief onboard INS Vikrant (Picture: Royal Navy)

08102025 The Western Regional Command's Band plays as Richmond comes along CREDIT ROYAL NAVY — The Western Regional Command's Band plays as Richmond comes along (Picture: Royal Navy)

08102025 Commander Rich Kemp greets Lieutenant Harshvardhan Sharma of the Indian Navy CREDIT ROYAL NAVY — Commander Rich Kemp greets Lieutenant Harshvardhan Sharma of the Indian Navy (Picture: Royal Navy)

CSG25

HMS Richmond arrives in Mumbai as UK signs major defence deals with India

HMS Richmond has arrived in Mumbai as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group's visit to India, coinciding with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's talks with Indian leader Narendra Modi.

The meeting saw the signing of defence contracts worth £600m, including new air defence missiles for the Indian Army.

While HMS Prince of Wales visits Goa, HMS Richmond has docked in Mumbai, where the crew received a ceremonial welcome from India's Western Naval Command.

As the ships arrived, the UK confirmed two major defence deals with India. A £350m contract will see Thales in Northern Ireland supply the Indian Army with lightweight multirole missiles and launchers.

A separate £250m agreement will advance collaboration on electric-powered engines for naval ships.

Our deal with India means:

More investment in the UK.
Thousands of new jobs across the country.
More money for you and your family. pic.twitter.com/jPZoijkNjA
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 9, 2025

"As we deepen our defence relationship with India, we will harness the UK defence industry as an engine for growth, securing vital jobs in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK," Defence Secretary John Healey said.

The UK Carrier Strike Group has been operating in the Indian Ocean alongside India's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant during Exercise Konkan.

The training saw F-35 Lightning jets from HMS Prince of Wales flying with Indian MiG-29Ks in a series of air and maritime drills.

The two carrier groups also carried out an anti-submarine warfare exercise, using Merlin Mk2 helicopters, a Royal Navy frigate and Indian P-8 Neptune patrol aircraft to track a submarine.

The Carrier Strike Group is now on the return leg of Operation Highmast, a deployment that has taken the Royal Navy to Japan, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore to strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific partners.

For more reports about Carrier Strike Group 25, click here.

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