London, July 12 - A 60-strong Indian business team representing the defence and security sectors - the largest such from the country - is to visit Britain in September for talks that could lead to a massive boost in military business ties.

The Indian companies they represent will be matched up with British firms to explore areas of mutual interest and expertise, former British trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt said.

'We will try to match the Indian companies with up to 40 British companies,' Hewitt told IANS on the sidelines of an India-Britain business meeting in London.

Hewitt will visit India in August in her capacity as the new Chair of the UK-India Business Council, keeping a strong focus on small and medium-size enterprises.

'There is a huge potential in the area of defence and security,' said Hewitt, who hopes to take a major British business delegation to India in January 2010.

The armed forces of India and Britain, facing the common threat of terrorism, have intensified joint exercises, exchanges and training courses in recent years.

The famous British Red Arrow aircraft flew over the beaches of Goa in 2006, and an Indian naval fleet led by the 6,700-tonne destroyer INS Delhi and commanded by Rear Admiral Surinder Pal Singh Cheema, arrived in the British port of Portsmouth last month to conduct exercises aimed at honing their skills at tackling African sea piracy.

Now the two countries have begun to eye the lucrative market in defence and security to give further substance to their strategic partnership.

With terrorism emerging as a major post-Cold War global threat, both countries are keen to set up joint ventures that will tap their respective expertise and skills.

Britain's Minister for Trade, Investment and Business Mervyn Davies told IANS recently he had been 'very impressed' by his meetings with representatives of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at the Paris Air Show in June.