India and Japan Sign MoI for UNICORN Masts

INDIA & JAPAN : An MoI has been inked between India and Japan to design and develop UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) masts. These masts have a conical shape in order to accommodate antennas on naval warships and contribute to the latter’s increased stealth feature. The collaboration is implemented within the context of bilateral India-Japan cooperation in the Defence Technology domain which was launched in 2015 in order to deepen cooperation in defense and promote technology exchange.

The project entails a defence electronics manufacturing centre by the BEL with Japanese firms as partners. This will be the first time Japan is exporting defence technology to India making it a very important achievement. Formally Japan has been very shy in exporting arms and big weaponary as it adopted a pacifist constitution after the world war II. Nevertheless, the changing the world politics in general, and the relations between main actors in the specific, together with the geostrategic importance of Indo-Pacific region, have moved Japan to be more active in defending its interests, as it is seen in the present treaty.

The UNICORN mast technology will improve communication and radar systems on the Indian warships while at the same time making the ships almost invisible to enemy radars. Such development suits India as the country tries to increase the content of locally produced defence technologies and Products through its ‘Make in India’ campaign as well as Japan since it is an opportunity for the country to parade its sophisticated military hardware across the globe.

It is not just expansion of India-Japan bilateral relation but also a sign of enhancement of strategic cooperation to face security challenges in Indo-Pacific region. The project may open more significant cooperation in Defence and Technology operating towards shared principles involving free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Relevance for Exams: This development is important for questions on India-Japan relation, Technology ties and role of Indonesia in Indo-Pacific region. The issues that must be of concern to the aspirants are the 2015 Defence Technology Cooperation, the role of Japanese cautious export policy, and how this partnership fits into India’s strategic vision.