India and Japan signed an agreement for the co-development of a naval radio antenna based on Japan’s UNICORN system. The announcement occurred during the visit of Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi to India.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi revealed the development during a joint press briefing, stating:
In the field of defence, today we have signed an agreement for the first-ever co-development project between India and Japan. This Naval Radio Antenna project will open a new chapter in our defence technology partnership. Going forward, we will jointly develop defence technologies that will strengthen regional peace, maritime security, and a rules-based order.
This is among the most tangible outcomes of India – Japan defence cooperation, which has been limited to joint exercises and other activities so far. Earlier, Indian procurement of the Shinmaywa US-2 seaplane was discussed for years before being shelved. DRDO and ATLA had also jointly researched Visual SLAM based GNSS Augmentation Technology for UGVs.
As early as 2022 India and Japan were in discussions regarding the UNICORN. In 2024, the foreign and defence Ministers of both nations “appreciated the progress made for the transfer of Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) and related technologies and early signing of related arrangements.”
UNICORN is currently used on the Mogami-class frigates of the JMSDF. The Indian Navy is likely to equip its next generation warships with the UNICORN derivative. In 2025, Indian shipyard MDL had also indicated preliminary discussions regarding a common destroyer designed between India and Japan.
