India and Japan are breaking new ground in defence cooperation by forging an “unprecedented high-technology military collaboration,” a detailed report by the Tokyo-based Japan Forward Association said this week.
“The Indo-Pacific region is at a critical juncture where technological superiority increasingly determines strategic outcomes,” wrote Pema Gyalpo, visiting professor at Takushoku University Centre for Indo-Pacific Strategic Studies. He added that this evolving partnership goes beyond traditional arms trade and represents a fundamental shift in how two democracies jointly develop, produce, and deploy advanced defence systems.
Since the elevation of their relationship to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014, India and Japan have steadily deepened defence exchanges, united by shared goals for peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
A key milestone came on November 15, 2024, when both countries signed a Memorandum of Implementation (MOI) in Tokyo for the co-development of the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) mast for Indian Navy ships. The agreement was signed by Indian Ambassador Sibi George and Ishikawa Takeshi, Commissioner of Japan’s Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA).
The UNICORN mast integrates advanced communication systems and enhances the stealth features of naval platforms. Its co-development by Bharat Electronics Limited and Japanese partners marks the first-ever such defence equipment collaboration between India and Japan.
Japan Forward highlighted the strategic significance of this step, noting that India is only the second Asian nation, after the Philippines, to receive Japan’s cutting-edge stealth technology currently deployed on Mogami-class frigates. This selective technology transfer reflects deep strategic trust and Japan’s recognition of India’s critical role in maintaining Indo-Pacific stability.
The report also pointed to broader collaboration potential, especially in submarine technology. Japan’s Soryu-class conventional submarines, featuring lithium-ion battery propulsion, are considered the pinnacle of stealth and endurance, surpassing submarines India is currently building under other collaborations.
Japan offers advanced technology and precision manufacturing, while India brings a large market, growing technological capacity, and strategic depth in the Indian Ocean Region. The partnership reflects a vision of an indigenous Indo-Pacific security architecture based on democratic values and mutual strategic interests.
As Gyalpo summarised, “The UNICORN masts agreement may be just the beginning, but it signals a transformation that could redefine regional security dynamics for decades to come.”
