UK, Oct. 9 -- The United Kingdom on Thursday signed a new £350 million defence deal with India that will support hundreds of jobs in Northern Ireland while supplying India, "a key strategic partner," with air defence missiles and launchers, the UK government said in a statement.

The contract is set to deliver UK-manufactured Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) built in Belfast to the Indian Army, delivering on the Government's Plan for Change in another significant boost for the UK defence industry.

According to the UK government, the project secures over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland, as the air defence missiles and launchers to be manufactured for the Indian Army are the same as those currently being manufactured in Belfast for U...