India and Japan are on the verge of concluding an agreement to jointly develop and produce the advanced UNICORN radar system, signaling a significant advancement in their growing defence partnership. The announcement was made by Japanese Ambassador Ono Keiichi at the International Conference on India-Japan Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in New Delhi.
The UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) mast is a cutting-edge naval system that integrates multiple radar and communication components into a single enclosed structure. By consolidating these elements, the design reduces radar cross-section, enhances stealth characteristics, and improves overall sensor performance and electromagnetic spectrum control.
According to Ambassador Ono, bilateral security cooperation between India and Japan has already made strong progress in the maritime domain, with future efforts set to expand interoperability across land, air, sea, and newer domains such as cyber and space. This approach is intended to enable coordinated operations in complex and evolving Indo-Pacific security scenarios.
The collaboration traces back to a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2024 for the joint development of UNICORN masts. Through this agreement, India became the second Asian country after the Philippines to enter into such a strategic partnership with Japan. The project is widely viewed as a cornerstone initiative within their broader defence technology collaboration.
By integrating radar, communication, and electronic warfare systems into a unified, stealth-focused structure, the UNICORN mast eliminates the need for multiple external antennas. This improves survivability, enhances situational awareness, and reduces electromagnetic interference—key advantages in modern naval warfare.
The strengthening of India-Japan defence relations builds on the 2015 agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology, which has enabled both countries to pursue joint development programs and advanced technology cooperation.
The UNICORN project was also discussed during high-level talks between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Japan’s then Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi during his visit to New Delhi in January, helping to accelerate negotiations and move the agreement toward finalisation.
