Archive · 19 Aug 2026
India, Japan Defence Ministers Set to Discuss UNICORN Cooperation
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is meeting Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
The meeting will take place in New Delhi on Thursday.
They are expected to discuss a special naval antenna system called UNICORN, also known as Nora-50.
Japan will help design the system and provide engineering support.
India will adapt and build it with Bharat Electronics Ltd.
The system is intended for future Indian Navy warships and is already used on some Japanese frigates.
Koizumi visited India’s Western Naval Command in Mumbai before the meeting.
The two countries also want to work more closely on maritime security and defence technology.
They say this cooperation can support a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.
Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Thursday.
The talks are expected to advance co-production of the UNICORN naval antenna system for future Indian Navy warships.
Japan will provide design and engineering support, while India will manage integration, adaptation and production through Bharat Electronics Ltd.
Koizumi visited Mumbai’s Western Naval Command, met senior Indian Navy officers and toured the indigenous destroyer INS Chennai.
The ministers will discuss maritime security, defence technology cooperation and broader strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific.
- Who
- India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
- What
- A bilateral meeting on UNICORN co-production, maritime security and defence technology cooperation.
- When
- Thursday, following Koizumi’s visit to Mumbai on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
- Where
- The bilateral talks will take place in New Delhi; Koizumi’s preceding naval visit was in Mumbai.
- Why
- To deepen India-Japan defence cooperation, advance UNICORN production and strengthen Indo-Pacific security coordination.
- UNICORN
- The Unified Complex Radio Antenna, also known as Nora-50, is a naval antenna system intended for Indian Navy platforms.
- Implementation agreement
- India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Implementation on November 15, 2024.
- Division of work
- Japan will provide design and engineering support; India will handle integration, adaptation and co-production through Bharat Electronics Ltd.
- Japanese deployment
- UNICORN is deployed aboard Mogami-class frigates of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.
- Koizumi’s visit
- The two-day trip is Shinjiro Koizumi’s maiden visit to India.
- Mumbai programme
- Koizumi inspected a Guard of Honour, laid a wreath at Gaurav Stambh, met Indian naval leaders and visited INS Chennai.
- Policy context
- The talks follow Japan’s revision of its Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology.
