Photo/Illutration Foreign and defense ministers from Japan and India meet in New Delhi on Aug. 20. (Provided by the Foreign Ministry)

NEW DELHI—Japan and India discussed Tokyo’s planned export to New Delhi of a communication antenna that makes it more difficult to detect naval vessels. 

At a meeting here on Aug. 20, foreign and defense ministers from the two countries agreed to bolster security cooperation in defense equipment and joint exercises.

Japan was represented by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara.

Their Indian counterparts were Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. 

The Unicorn communication antenna, which integrates multiple antennas, is deployed aboard the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Mogami-class frigate vessels.

The name stands for “unified complex radio antenna.”

The ministers also discussed promoting joint exercises between the SDF and the Indian military.

Additionally, they agreed to deepen cooperation in space and cyberspace.

The Aug. 20 meeting was the third between Japanese and Indian foreign and defense ministers. The second was held about two years ago.

Tokyo hopes that stronger security cooperation with India will help align the South Asian giant with Japan and the United States in its efforts to keep China and Russia in check.

India, which is at odds with China over their borders, has emphasized a friendly relationship with Japan.

But the country has maintained close ties with Russia.

India has increased oil imports from Russia after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It relies on Russia for nearly half of its weapons.

Nandan Unnikrishnan at the Indian think tank Observer Research Foundation said India emphasizes practical benefits and that maintaining friendly relations with many countries will further its interests.

(This article was written by Nobuhiko Tajima and Takashi Ishihara in New Delhi.)

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