With reference to the India-Japan defence cooperation, consider the following statements: 1. The UNICORN radar agreement was signed during a visit in July 2025. 2. The UNICORN radar system is a key component of the naval radar agreement. 3. Japan announced plans for Quad naval exercises near the Sea of Japan. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Japan urges India to speed up UNICORN radar deal amid Quad naval plans

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· India's bilateral relations· Prelims + Mains· 29 September 2026

India-Japan defence cooperation and FOIP framework: a key GS2 International Relations topic.

Why in news

A Japanese Ministry of Defence official urged India to expedite the internal processing of the UNICORN naval radar agreement signed during Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s July visit.

Background

Japan and India signed a naval radar agreement during PM Sanae Takaichi's visit in July 2026. The deal involves the UNICORN radar system to bolster naval capabilities under Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) principles.

Facts for Prelims

S&TUNICORN: A naval radar system involved in a defense agreement between India and Japan.
PostSanae Takaichi: Prime Minister of Japan during the July 2026 visit.
FactJapan announced plans for Quad naval exercises near the Sea of Japan.
FactFOIP: Free and Open Indo-Pacific principles are the guiding framework for the military collaboration.

Prelims practice question

With reference to the India-Japan defence cooperation, consider the following statements:

The UNICORN radar agreement was signed during a visit in July 2025.
The UNICORN radar system is a key component of the naval radar agreement.
Japan announced plans for Quad naval exercises near the Sea of Japan.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)2 and 3 only

Show answer

Answer: (d) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The agreement was signed in July 2026.

For Mains

Q. Examine how the UNICORN radar deal and Quad naval exercises reflect India's evolving maritime security strategy under the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) framework.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Strategic autonomy: Balancing bilateral defense procurement with multilateral Quad security commitments
Technological sovereignty: Reducing reliance on external vendors for critical maritime surveillance infrastructure
Geopolitical alignment: Aligning naval capabilities to counter maritime challenges in the Sea of Japan and West Asia

Keywords: Maritime Security · Strategic Autonomy · Defense Procurement · Indo-Pacific Strategy · Military Cooperation

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note Source: The Hindu ↗Also: GS3 · Defence technology

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