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Taking bilateral defence relations one step further, India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Implementation for the co-development of Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) masts in late 2024. This decision comes in light of burgeoning maritime security cooperation, and an increased focus on the naval capabilities of both nations. The Indo-Pacific region stands at the centre of this agreement, highlighting the growing strategic alignment of regional priorities between New Delhi and Tokyo. Emerging as a nucleus of geopolitical competition, key concerns in the region centre around the need for a sustainable rules-based order and a secure network for the freedom of navigation.
The Indo-Pacific region stands at the centre of this agreement, highlighting the growing strategic alignment of regional priorities between New Delhi and Tokyo.
The UNICORN mast technology, originally developed for advanced naval operations, aids in the crucial goal of stealth in maritime surveillance. It does so by integrating multiple communication systems and antennas from different points on the deck of a vessel into a single, compact structure. This innovation greatly optimises bandwidth usage and facilitates secure, high-speed communication across a wide range of frequencies, making it indispensable for modern naval fleets in the contentious waters of the Indo-Pacific. The antenna, known formally as Nora-50, will be produced by Bharat Electronics Limited from India, along with the Yokohama Rubber, NEC Corporation, and Sampa Kogyo KK from Japan. Earlier applications of such integrated masts were seen on the Mogami-class frigates of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces, where they aided in Coast Guard navigation, data collection and stealth operations. Most importantly, by getting rid of multiple antennas on ships, UNICORN masts reduce radar cross-sections and improve stealth capabilities, giving countries a significant advantage in modern naval capabilities.
For India, this collaboration allows the integration of advanced Japanese technology into its naval modernisation program. Meanwhile, for Japan, this partnership is an opportunity to strengthen its defence ties with India, a strategic partner that can contribute to countering revisionist forces in the region. This project is also anchored in Japan’s post-2022 National Security Strategy, which emphasises enhancing defence exports and building resilient supply chains with like-minded countries.
The Quad has increasingly focused on maritime security through initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, which aims to provide real-time surveillance and the monitoring of maritime activities.
For New Delhi, the Indian Ocean is the primary theatre of strategic importance, serving as a gateway for its trade and energy supplies. Japan, similarly, relies heavily on energy imports through Indian Ocean chokepoints like the Malacca Strait. The co-development of UNICORN masts enhances the naval capabilities of both nations, allowing them to monitor and secure these critical waterways more effectively. The agreement also holds strategic importance for broader regional frameworks. Both India and Japan are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), along with the United States (US) and Australia. The Quad has increasingly focused on maritime security through initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, which aims to provide real-time surveillance and the monitoring of maritime activities. The integration of UNICORN masts into Indian and Japanese naval platforms complements these efforts, improving interoperability within the Quad framework, and enhancing the collective ability to address challenges such as illegal fishing, piracy, and transnational crime.
Technologically, the agreement aligns with India’s leadership in the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region, a hub for sharing maritime domain awareness data with partner countries. The enhanced communication and stealth capabilities provided by UNICORN masts will allow India to contribute more effectively to regional initiatives, reinforcing its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). For Japan, the collaboration strengthens its naval presence in the Indian Ocean, where it has historically played a limited role compared to the Pacific. This expanded role reflects Tokyo’s vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and ensures greater stability along vital trade routes.
The enhanced communication and stealth capabilities provided by UNICORN masts will allow India to contribute more effectively to regional initiatives, reinforcing its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The significance of the UNICORN mast agreement goes beyond technological integration, underscoring the deeper level of trust between India and Japan, given the delicate nature of dual-use defence technologies in the world. Japan’s decision to transfer and, more importantly, co-develop naval technology of this nature with India, reflects its growing confidence in India as a reliable defence partner. Japan’s history of pacifism and scepticism in defence technology transfer has long been a roadblock in its quest for strong partnerships in the region. However, recent shifts in Japan’s defence posture, which started with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and continued under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, have enabled Tokyo to take a more proactive stance on emerging threats. Through this collaboration with New Delhi, Tokyo not only increases the scope of its defence partnerships but also reinforces its strategic alignment with India. This development also highlights the evolving dynamics of Japan’s defence industry. Historically focused on domestic production and US-centric alliances, Japan has begun diversifying its partnerships to include other regional powers. The development of UNICORN masts exemplifies this shift, allowing Japan to position itself as a key player in shaping the Indo-Pacific security environment. The collaboration also serves the Indian strategy of diversifying defence partnerships, reducing its dependence on traditional suppliers such as Russia, and engaging with technologically advanced nations like Japan and France.
The development of UNICORN masts exemplifies this shift, allowing Japan to position itself as a key player in shaping the Indo-Pacific security environment.
The UNICORN mast agreement is strategically vital as it addresses the pressing need for enhanced maritime domain awareness in the increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region. By enabling secure, high-speed communication and advanced stealth capabilities, the technology significantly upgrades naval readiness. The project symbolises a shared commitment to a rules-based maritime order, underpinned by mutual trust and a forward-looking strategic vision. It strengthens the bilateral partnership while also paving the way for deeper technological and defence collaborations between two key democracies in the region.
Pratnashree Basu is an Associate Fellow, Indo-Pacific with the Strategic Studies Programme and the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy at the Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata.
Tripti Neb is a Research Intern at the Observer Research Foundation.
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