India and Japan have signed a memorandum of Implementation (MoI) for the co-production of the Japanese-developed Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) system to be installed on Indian naval ships.

The agreement was signed in Tokyo, Japan, on 15 November 2024. This is the first India-Japan joint production venture in defence equipment since the bilateral agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology in 2016.

The MOI was signed by Sibi George, the Indian ambassador to Japan, and Ishikawa Takeshi, the Commissioner of the Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) under the Japanese Ministry of Defence.

What is the UNICORN?

The Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN), also known as NORA-50, is an integrated antenna system developed by Japan's NEC Corporation. It is currently installed on the mast of the Mogami-class frigates of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Japanese Navy).

The UNICORN system is an antenna mast with sensors and transponders for communications, electronic warfare, and navigation. It increases naval ships' stealth capability.

Who will manufacture UNICORN in India?

The UNICORN to be used in Indian naval ships will be produced by the Bengaluru-based Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) with the assistance of Japan's NEC Corporation.

Background to the Deal

A Joint statement was issued after the conclusion of the 3rd India Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue of the Defence and Foreign ministers of both countries in New Delhi on 20 August 2024. The joint statement said that progress had been made in exporting Japan's and related technologies” to India.

The joint statement announced that both countries had completed their joint research project on unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).

The current memorandum of Implementation (MoI) between the two countries has been signed after the 2+2 meeting of both countries.

India -Japan Cooperation in UGV Research

Since 2018, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Japanese Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) have been conducting research on

“visual simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM)-based global navigation satellite [services] (GNSS) augmentation technology” for UGVs(Unmanned Ground Vehicles)/robotics.

The project was successfully completed, and it is expected that both countries will jointly develop technology for military use in the future.

This is the first cooperative research arrangement between the two countries since the bilateral agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology in 2016.

India-Japan Defence Ties

India and Japan have a ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’, of which the Defence and Security partnerships are important pillars.

Both countries are worried about China's aggressive power projection in the Indo-Pacific region. To counter Chinese influence, they are strengthening their political and defence ties. Along with the United States of America and Australia, they are members of the Quad Forum.

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In 2015, both countries signed an ‘Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment & Technology Cooperation’ and an ‘Agreement concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military Information’.

This laid the foundation for the transfer of defence technology from Japan and possible co-production of defence equipment.