INDIA-US UNDERWATER DOMAIN AWARENESS COOPERATION

GS2 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India and the US have strengthened their collaboration in Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA), a key focus during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington. The Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA) was announced to enhance industry partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

Importance of UDA

• Essential for national security and maritime safety.
• Countering China’s naval presence in the Indian Ocean.
• Enables tracking of submarines and underwater threats.

Key Technologies in Focus

The US has proposed co-producing advanced UDA technologies in India, including:

• Sea Picket (autonomous sonar surveillance).
• Wave Glider (unmanned surface vehicles).
• Triton (autonomous underwater & surface vehicle).
• Low-frequency active sonar & sonobuoys.

Defence Cooperation Framework (2025-2035)

• Accelerating technology transfers in space, air defence, and maritime security.
• US reviewing policies on sharing fifth-generation fighter technologies.
• Boeing’s Liquid Robotics in talks with Sagar Defence Engineering for Wave Glider production.
• L3 Harris & Bharat Electronics Limited negotiating sonar system development.

Expanding Military Cooperation

• Logistics, intelligence sharing, and joint operations to be strengthened.
• New Quad initiatives focus on disaster response and maritime patrol.
• Key US acquisitions enhancing India’s anti-submarine warfare:
  • 12 P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.
  • 24 MH-60R helicopters.
  • 15 MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones.

This collaboration significantly boosts India’s maritime security and Quad interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.