India-US Underwater Domain Awareness Cooperation

February 18, 2025

India and the United States have recently intensified their collaboration in underwater domain awareness (UDA). This focus emerged during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, where they announced the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA). This initiative aims to enhance industry partnerships and production within the Indo-Pacific region.

Importance of Underwater Domain Awareness

Underwater domain awareness involves monitoring and understanding activities beneath the ocean’s surface.
It is crucial for national security and maritime safety.
The growing presence of the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean has prompted both India and the US to prioritise this area.
Enhanced UDA capabilities will help in tracking submarines and other underwater activities effectively.

Key Technologies in Focus

The US has proposed several UDA technologies for co-production in India. These include:

Sea Picket autonomous surveillance system with sonar arrays
Wave Glider unmanned surface vehicle systems
Low frequency active towed sonar
Multistatic active (MSA) sonobuoys
Large diameter autonomous undersea vehicles
Triton autonomous underwater and surface vehicle

These technologies are considered sensitive and represent advancement in defence cooperation.

Defence Cooperation Framework

India and the US are drafting a comprehensive framework for defence cooperation covering the period from 2025 to 2035. This includes accelerating technology cooperation across various domains such as space and air defence. The US is also reviewing its policy on releasing advanced military technologies, including fifth-generation fighters, to India.

Partnership Initiatives

Ongoing discussions between US companies and Indian partners aim to establish co-production agreements. For instance, Boeing’s Liquid Robotics is negotiating with Sagar Defence Engineering for the co-production of Wave Glider platforms in India. Similarly, L3 Harris is in talks with Bharat Electronics Limited for developing low frequency active towed sonar systems.

Expanding Military Cooperation

The joint statement from Modi and US President Donald Trump marks a commitment to enhance military cooperation across all domains. This includes improved logistics, intelligence sharing, and joint humanitarian operations. The leaders also announced new Quad initiatives aimed at supporting disaster response and enhancing maritime patrol capabilities.