India and Japan Sign Landmark Maritime Security Pact to Deepen Defence Ties

India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation in New Delhi to deepen bilateral defence and naval ties. The agreement was signed during the Japan-India Defence Ministers’ Meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

Framework of Cooperation: Strengthens collaboration between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), Search and Rescue (SAR), and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

Naval Shipbuilding & Logistics: Focuses on combining Japan's technological expertise with India’s manufacturing capabilities under the 'Make in India' framework, along with reciprocal access to ship repair facilities.

Bilateral Military Exercises:

Army: Dharma Guardian

Navy: JIMEX

Air Force: Veer Guardian 26 (featuring the maiden visit of Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets to India).

Defence Technology Transfer: The shipborne UNICORN integrated communications antenna system stands as the flagship project representing the first defence equipment transfer between both nations.

Working Group & 2+2 Dialogue: Agreed to set up a Director-General/Joint Secretary-level Working Group and accelerate plans for the 4th Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting (2+2) in Tokyo.

Japan:

Capital: Tokyo

Currency: Japanese Yen

Parliament: The National Diet

India-Japan Strategic Bilateral Frameworks:

Malabar Exercise: Multilateral naval exercise involving India, Japan, the US, and Australia (Quad members).

What is the name of the annual bilateral maritime exercise conducted between India and Japan?

Answer: JIMEX

Which defense equipment system marks the first official defense technology transfer project between India and Japan?

Answer: UNICORN integrated communications antenna system