India and the United Kingdom are on the verge of finalising a landmark agreement to jointly develop Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) systems for the Indian Navy.
This cutting-edge technology is designated to power four upcoming Landing Platform Docks (LPDs)—massive amphibious assault ships that are expected to displace roughly 29,000 tonnes.
This anticipated deal represents the next major achievement in a rapidly expanding bilateral defence relationship that has been steadily gaining momentum since late 2024.
The IFEP framework marks a significant evolution in maritime engineering.
In conventional vessel designs, moving the ship and powering its internal electronics often rely on separate, isolated power generation systems.
Under the integrated electric model, a single, highly efficient central grid supplies electricity for both the ship's propulsion and all its internal loads.
For naval architects, this unified approach offers unparalleled design flexibility.
Because modern warships are packed with heavily power-dependent hardware—such as long-range radars, electronic warfare suites, and next-generation defensive platforms—the IFEP architecture ensures these critical technologies never have to compete directly with the propellers for energy.
Diplomatically, this Inter-Governmental Agreement stems from a foundational Statement of Intent signed in Portsmouth on November 28, 2024.
The technical and industrial framework was further cemented in Goa during the fourth joint working group meeting on electric propulsion, which was timed alongside the port call of the Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group.
On the industrial side, the UK's GE Vernova has officially partnered with India’s state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
Together, they are building India’s very first maritime land-based testing facility, allowing engineers to thoroughly stress-test and validate the entire propulsion system on dry land before it is ever fitted inside a ship's hull.
All four LPDs are slated for construction at an Indian shipyard, delivering the country its first large-scale naval platforms equipped entirely with electric propulsion.
Once operational, these modern vessels will take over the critical amphibious and disaster-relief roles currently filled by the ageing, single-ship INS Jalashwa.
This propulsion project is a core pillar of a much broader India-UK defence ecosystem, which also includes the co-development of jet engines for India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the procurement of Lightweight Multirole Missiles.
Moving far beyond traditional buyer-seller transactions, the UK is cementing its role as a long-term technology partner, with British officials already proposing plans to eventually retrofit IFEP technology onto India’s existing fleet of warships.
