Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed a defence agreement on Thursday to jointly develop a naval radio antenna [1].
The agreement marks the first co-development project between the two nations, signaling a shift toward deeper military integration and shared technological research.
The project focuses on the creation of the Naval Radio Antenna ‘Unicorn’ [2]. The announcement occurred during a joint press conference in New Delhi following bilateral talks between the two leaders [1].
Both nations intend to use this project to reaffirm their commitment to regional security [3]. The partnership aims to deepen defence ties by moving beyond the simple purchase of equipment toward the collaborative engineering of military hardware.
This cooperation comes as part of a broader strategic alignment between India and Japan. The two leaders said that the 'Unicorn' project represents a new chapter in their defence relationship [3].
Officials said the agreement will allow for shared expertise in naval communications, and surveillance technology. The joint effort is expected to enhance the interoperability of the Indian and Japanese navies as they navigate regional security challenges [2].
The signing took place on July 2, 2026 [1].
“India and Japan signed a defence agreement to jointly develop the Naval Radio Antenna ‘Unicorn’.”
The transition from procurement to co-development indicates a high level of strategic trust between New Delhi and Tokyo. By jointly engineering the 'Unicorn' antenna, both countries reduce their reliance on third-party military suppliers and establish a framework for future high-tech weapons collaboration to counter regional instability.
