India and Japan sign agreement for UNICORN masts for naval warships
India and Japan sign agreement for UNICORN masts for naval warships
India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Imple- mentation (MoI) for the "co-development" of UN- ICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) mast, a conical structure that houses antennas atop war- ships increasing their stealth characteristics, for fitment on Indian naval warships under the frame- work of the India-Japan De- fence Cooperation. Technology
Once implemented, this would be the first export case of defence technology from Japan under the bilat- eral agreement on defence equipment and technology transfer signed in 2015.
The joint statement is- sued after the 2+2 inter-Mi- nisterial dialogue in August
2024 had referred to dis- cussions over the "early transfer" of UNICORN and related technologies.
The Mol was signed and exchanged on Friday bet- ween the Indian Envoy to Japan Sibi George and Ishi- kawa Takeshi, Commis- sioner of Acquisition Tech- nology and Logistics
EMBASSY OF INDIA TOKYO
The Mol was signed between Indian envoy Sibi George and Ishikawa Takeshi, a Japanese official, at a ceremony in Tokyo. ARRANGEMENT
Agency under Japanese MoD at a ceremony in To- kyo.
Communication system The UNICORN is a mast with integrated communi- cation systems which will help improve the stealth characteristics of naval platforms.
"The Indian Navy is pur- suing the induction of these advanced systems which will be co-deve- loped by Bharat Electron- ics Limited in India with Ja- panese collaboration," the Navy said in a statement. When implemented, this would be the first case of co-development and co- production of defence equipment between India and Japan, it added.
Japan has been looking to export military hard- ware to some countries in recent years but has strict conditions given its pacifist constitution. India and Ja- pan has earlier negotiated the procurement of amphi- bious planes for the Indian Navy over several years but the deal never made pro- gress given the high cost and other priority procure- ments for the Navy.
Dinakar Peri
NEW DELHI
Comments
Post a Comment