Japan To Export Antenna For Warships To India

Unicorn antenna in Japan's Multi-Misi Siluman JS Mogami (FFM-1) frigate (Twitter/@jmsdf_yrh)

JAKARTA - Japan plans to export stealth antennas mounted on its Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) warship to India, as the two countries strengthen security cooperation, according to a government source.

If realized, it would be the first export under the Japan-India agreement on Alutsista (a key weapon system tool) and technology transfer signed in 2015.

The expected exports are meant to encourage India to reduce its dependence on Russia, in the procurement of military equipment, and improve defense ties between Japan and India amid China's military rise, the sources said, citing Kyodo News Oct. 15.

Japan is eager to increase its exports of defense equipment and technology to support its domestic defense industry, even though it imposes stringent requirements because of its war-denial constitution.

For example, the three main principles regarding the transfer of defense equipment say, transfers should not be used for violations, but for purposes such as surveillance and minesweeping.

Unicorn stealth antenna system (arrow) on Japanese warships. (Twitter/@jmsdf_yrh)

Japan plans to export to India a system called Unicorn, in which multiple antennae are placed in a horn-shaped structure. It is equipped on the new MSDF FFM warship commissioned in 2022.

By covering the antennas in a single structure, the Unicorn system can reduce the reflection of enemy radio waves. On previous Japanese warships, each antenna was exposed on the mast.

Japan and India agreed to cooperate on the transfer of the Unicorn system when their foreign and defense ministers met in Tokyo in September for the so-called Two-Plus-Two meeting, the sources said.

While Japan is concerned about China's increasing maritime assertiveness, India has a longstanding border dispute with Asian powers.

Japan and India are part of the Quad, a four-way security framework that also includes Australia and the United States, with China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region one of their most pressing issues.

【もがみ型護衛艦】

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今週末の、よこすかカレーフェスティバルまでいるかなぁ？？

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At the Two-Plus-Two meeting, Japan told India that it supported the South Asian country's efforts to diversify arms procurement sources, the sources said.

Following the meeting, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited the MSDF base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The minister is believed to have inspected the Unicorn system installed on the new destroyer, the Kumano, and may have been briefed on its capabilities.

Apart from India, Japan has signed similar defense equipment transfer agreements with 11 countries, the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

The deal comes as the government, led by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, relaxed rules on the transfer of defense equipment and technology in 2014, in the first major overhaul of the country's long-held arms embargo.

To note, the Land of the Rising Sun aims to increase exports of weapons production.

本日、護衛艦「#もがみ」の入港歓迎行事を実施しました。

「もがみ」艦長が横須賀地方総監に入港挨拶を行い、横須賀市長から歓迎のご挨拶をいただきました。

艦名は最上川に由来して名付けられました。#海自横須賀 #平和を守る仕事 pic.twitter.com/GaYU7FW4ry

— 横須賀地方総監部【公式】 (@jmsdf_yrh) May 9, 2022