Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: India and Japan have signed their first bilateral agreement for in defence manufacturing by producing the UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) shipborne communications mast, an advanced integrated mast system developed by Japan’s NEC Corporation.
Under the arrangement, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will manufacture the system in India in collaboration with Japanese partners. Japan will provide the design and core technologies, while India will undertake system integration, localisation and production in line with the government’s “Make in India” initiative.
Although the UNICORN system was originally developed by NEC, India plans to integrate its own sensors and antennas into the mast for deployment on Indian Navy warships. The integrated mast is expected to gradually replace existing communication and sensor mast systems across the Navy’s fleet.
India has shown interest in acquiring the technology for several years. In November 2024, the two countries concluded an agreement for the export of UNICORN multifunctional masts to India under their broader strategic partnership, paving the way for the latest co-development initiative.
UNICORN, also known as NORA-50, was jointly developed by NEC Corporation, Sampa Kogyo K.K. and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. for Japan’s Mogami-class frigates. Designed as an integrated mast, the system consolidates multiple communication, surveillance and electronic warfare antennas into a single structure, reducing the number of externally mounted antennas on a ship’s superstructure.
