Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's maiden visit to India saw both countries unveil a 16- point roadmap to deepen cooperation in economic security, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean energy and critical technologies.


In pics: India welcomes Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi on her maiden visit

<p>India and Japan have unveiled a 16-point roadmap to deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, signalling a major expansion of cooperation beyond traditional trade and investment. Announced after the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi, the roadmap places economic security, artificial intelligence (AI), resilient supply chains and clean energy at the centre of bilateral ties.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also released three key policy documents covering economic security, AI cooperation and energy resilience, alongside a series of agreements across emerging technologies, mobility, critical minerals and financial services.</p><h2>What is the 16-point roadmap?</h2><p>The roadmap outlines a broad framework for cooperation across strategic sectors that both countries consider essential for future economic growth and national security.</p><p>According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, economic security will now serve as a foundational pillar of the partnership. The two sides said their cooperation is based on "mutual trust, shared values and aligned interests", while recognising that their economic prosperity and security are increasingly interconnected.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The initiative also reflects growing concerns over economic coercion, arbitrary export restrictions and non-market practices that can disrupt global supply chains, particularly for critical minerals and strategic industries.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">List of outcomes (16 in total) : Meeting between PM <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and PM <a href="https://x.com/takaichi_sanae?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@takaichi_sanae</a> of Japan on her Official Visit to India ⬇️<br><br>🇮🇳 🇯🇵 <a href="https://t.co/jgxHibuxVW">pic.twitter.com/jgxHibuxVW</a></p>&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2072618844334838114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Which sectors will receive priority?</h2><p>The roadmap identifies five priority sectors under the economic security partnership.</p><p>Semiconductors: India and Japan will work to diversify semiconductor supply chains, strengthen manufacturing, research, chip design and skill development, while encouraging greater participation of Japanese firms in India's Semiconductor Mission 2.0.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Critical minerals</strong>: Both countries will expand technical cooperation between the Geological Survey of India and Japan's JOGMEC. They also plan to develop an ecosystem for e-waste recycling to improve the recovery of critical minerals.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Information and communication technology</strong>: Cooperation will include 5G Advanced, Open RAN, data centres, submarine cables, AI infrastructure and standards for beyond 5G and 6G technologies. A Track 1.5 Economic Security Dialogue involving governments, industry and experts will also be launched.</p><h2>AI collaboration central to the partnership</h2><p>Artificial intelligence has emerged as one of the biggest pillars of the roadmap.</p><p>India and Japan agreed to build a safe, secure, trustworthy, inclusive and human-centric AI ecosystem. Their cooperation will cover the entire AI technology stack, including secure digital infrastructure, semiconductors, GPUs, compute resources, multilingual and open-source AI models, cybersecurity, AI governance and public sector applications.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Several institutional partnerships were also announced. IIT Bombay's BharatGen Technology Foundation will collaborate with Japan's National Institute of Informatics on multilingual scientific large language models. Sarvam AI and Preferred Networks will jointly develop foundational AI models, while the IndiaAI Mission and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will support AI startups and innovation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Recognising India's growing AI talent pool, both governments reaffirmed their target of bringing 500 highly skilled Indian AI professionals to Japan by 2030 through expanded research, internships and industry partnerships.</p><h2>Partnership to strengthen energy security</h2><p>India and Japan also adopted a Joint Statement on Energy Resilience aimed at improving cooperation in strategic petroleum reserves, crude oil stockpiling, maritime energy transport and clean energy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The two countries will exchange best practices on emergency response systems, reserve management and stockpiling while exploring joint investments across maritime energy transport value chains.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The summit also launched the India-Japan Cooperative Biogas for Growth Initiative, under which Japan will support the establishment of 1,000 biogas and organic fertiliser plants across India using dairy cooperative networks.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Beyond biogas, both countries agreed to promote hydrogen and ammonia projects, strengthen battery supply chains, encourage cooperation in solar and nuclear energy, and expand collaboration in international carbon credit trading.</p><h2>What other agreements were signed?</h2><p>The summit produced agreements across several strategic sectors.</p><p>India and Japan signed a memorandum on trusted battery supply chains, strengthened cooperation on pharmaceutical supply chains for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Key Starting Materials, and agreed to deepen collaboration in geological exploration of critical minerals.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Next Generation Mobility Partnership will expand cooperation in railways, automobiles, aviation, shipbuilding, logistics, ports and urban infrastructure while promoting India as a global manufacturing hub.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Both countries also signed agreements in biotechnology, internet governance and financial regulation, covering deep tech research, internet security, IPv6 adoption, FinTech and RegTech.</p>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, unveiled three key policy documents on economic security, artificial intelligence and energy resilience after delegation-level talks in New Delhi.

India and Japan have unveiled a 16-point roadmap to deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, signalling a major expansion of cooperation beyond traditional trade and investment. Announced after the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi, the roadmap places economic security, artificial intelligence (AI), resilient supply chains and clean energy at the centre of bilateral ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also released three key policy documents covering economic security, AI cooperation and energy resilience, alongside a series of agreements across emerging technologies, mobility, critical minerals and financial services. What is the 16-point roadmap? The roadmap outlines a broad framework for cooperation across strategic sectors that both countries consider essential for future economic growth and national security. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, economic security will now serve as a foundational pillar of the partnership. The two sides said their cooperation is based on "mutual trust, shared values and aligned interests", while recognising that their economic prosperity and security are increasingly interconnected. The initiative also reflects growing concerns over economic coercion, arbitrary export restrictions and non-market practices that can disrupt global supply chains, particularly for critical minerals and strategic industries.

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, unveiled three key policy documents on economic security, artificial intelligence and energy resilience after delegation-level talks in New Delhi.</p>

WION Decodes | India-Japan 16-point roadmap on economic security, AI, energy resilience

<p>As Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds talks with Narendra Modi in Delhi for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, the relationship being discussed in policy terms — trade, technology, defence — has a much older foundation: a shared Buddhist heritage tracing back to Varanasi.</p><h2>Origins: Sarnath, 5th century BCE</h2><p>The India-Japan relationship is framed around modern metrics — bilateral trade, infrastructure financing, trade, and defence. However, its oldest connective thread runs back roughly 2,500 years, to Sarnath, near present-day Varanasi, where the Gautama Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon. This event, known in Buddhist tradition as the "turning of the wheel of dharma," marks the starting point of Buddhism as an organised religious and philosophical practice and one that would eventually reach Japan years later.</p><h2>How it travelled: India to Japan</h2><p>Buddhism did not move from India to Japan directly. It spread in stages, through Central Asia and China, reaching Korea before formal transmission to Japan in the sixth century CE. Centuries later, in the 13th century, the Japanese monk Nichiren Daishonin, following the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, founded a distinct school of Buddhist practice centred on the Lotus Sutra. This transmission — spanning multiple countries and roughly a thousand years — is well documented by historians and remains one of the clearest examples of Indian religious philosophy shaping East Asian civilisation.</p><h2>The growth of Bharat Soka Gakkai</h2><p>That history is not confined to textbooks. Bharat Soka Gakkai, the Indian affiliate of the Japan-founded Soka Gakkai International, practises Nichiren Buddhism across Indian cities today, running education and cultural programmes based on this tradition. Bharat Soka Gakkai, the ever-growing organisation, follows Nichiren Buddhism. The philosophy believes in the infinite potential of each individual, which, when channelised in the right manner, can steer lives as well as society at large in the right direction.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Over the last three decades, Nichiren Buddhism has spread across cities in India, and the Japanese chant of ‘Nam Myoho Renge Kyo’ echoes almost out of every other urban household in India. While the practice first permeated into big cities and English-speaking practitioners, in the last decade, the reach of BSG has widened and reached tier 2 and 3 cities.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/japan-beyond-tokyo-and-kyoto-the-ultimate-underrated-itinerary-for-indian-travellers-1782904060631">Japan beyond Tokyo and Kyoto: The ultimate underrated itinerary for Indian travellers</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A school of Buddhism that developed in Japan over centuries now has an active, organised following in the country where Buddhism originated. Scores of Indian households follow Buddhist philosophy and chant in Japanese.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It is a concrete, present-day example of the religious exchange between the two civilisations — not merely a historical footnote.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asia-is-one-how-rabindranath-tagore-and-okakura-kakuz-s-friendship-paved-way-for-modern-ties-between-india-and-japan-1782749957244">Asia is one: How Rabindranath Tagore and Okakura Kakuzō’s friendship paved way for modern ties between India and Japan</a></p><h2>Kyoto's place in the story</h2><p>Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital, houses many of the country's most significant Buddhist temples and institutions. Its temple architecture and religious practices developed from Buddhist thought that arrived via China, itself traceable to Indian origins. This lineage is why Kyoto is often cited as Japan's spiritual counterpart to Kashi — both cities function as centres of religious heritage within their respective national identities.</p><h2>Where diplomacy fits in</h2><p>Governments have periodically sought to formalise this cultural connection. In 2015, Kashi and Kyoto signed a "Partner City" agreement during a visit by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, explicitly citing their shared Buddhist heritage. While this week's summit and the 16th edition of the India-Japan Annual Summit is expected to focus on economic security, technology and defence cooperation, it is important to note that the two nations are not building ties on a blank slate.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A religious and cultural link established more than two millennia ago — and still practised today through groups like Bharat Soka Gakkai — continues to underpin a partnership now measured in trade figures and joint statements.</p>

As Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets Narendra Modi in Delhi for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, the bilateral relationship — usually discussed in terms of trade, technology and defence — rests on a much older foundation- a shared Buddhist heritage tracing back to Varanasi.

As Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds talks with Narendra Modi in Delhi for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, the relationship being discussed in policy terms — trade, technology, defence — has a much older foundation: a shared Buddhist heritage tracing back to Varanasi. Origins: Sarnath, 5th century BCE The India-Japan relationship is framed around modern metrics — bilateral trade, infrastructure financing, trade, and defence. However, its oldest connective thread runs back roughly 2,500 years, to Sarnath, near present-day Varanasi, where the Gautama Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon. This event, known in Buddhist tradition as the "turning of the wheel of dharma," marks the starting point of Buddhism as an organised religious and philosophical practice and one that would eventually reach Japan years later. How it travelled: India to Japan Buddhism did not move from India to Japan directly. It spread in stages, through Central Asia and China, reaching Korea before formal transmission to Japan in the sixth century CE. Centuries later, in the 13th century, the Japanese monk Nichiren Daishonin, following the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, founded a distinct school of Buddhist practice centred on the Lotus Sutra. This transmission — spanning multiple countries and roughly a thousand years — is well documented by historians and remains one of the clearest examples of Indian religious philosophy shaping East Asian civilisation. The growth of Bharat Soka Gakkai That history is not confined to textbooks. Bharat Soka Gakkai, the Indian affiliate of the Japan-founded Soka Gakkai International, practises Nichiren Buddhism across Indian cities today, running education and cultural programmes based on this tradition. Bharat Soka Gakkai, the ever-growing organisation, follows Nichiren Buddhism. The philosophy believes in the infinite potential of each individual, which, when channelised in the right manner, can steer lives as well as society at large in the right direction. Over the last three decades, Nichiren Buddhism has spread across cities in India, and the Japanese chant of ‘Nam Myoho Renge Kyo’ echoes almost out of every other urban household in India. While the practice first permeated into big cities and English-speaking practitioners, in the last decade, the reach of BSG has widened and reached tier 2 and 3 cities. Also read: Japan beyond Tokyo and Kyoto: The ultimate underrated itinerary for Indian travellers A school of Buddhism that developed in Japan over centuries now has an active, organised following in the country where Buddhism originated. Scores of Indian households follow Buddhist philosophy and chant in Japanese. It is a concrete, present-day example of the religious exchange between the two civilisations — not merely a historical footnote. Also read: Asia is one: How Rabindranath Tagore and Okakura Kakuzō’s friendship paved way for modern ties between India and Japan Kyoto's place in the story Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital, houses many of the country's most significant Buddhist temples and institutions. Its temple architecture and religious practices developed from Buddhist thought that arrived via China, itself traceable to Indian origins. This lineage is why Kyoto is often cited as Japan's spiritual counterpart to Kashi — both cities function as centres of religious heritage within their respective national identities. Where diplomacy fits in Governments have periodically sought to formalise this cultural connection. In 2015, Kashi and Kyoto signed a "Partner City" agreement during a visit by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, explicitly citing their shared Buddhist heritage. While this week's summit and the 16th edition of the India-Japan Annual Summit is expected to focus on economic security, technology and defence cooperation, it is important to note that the two nations are not building ties on a blank slate. A religious and cultural link established more than two millennia ago — and still practised today through groups like Bharat Soka Gakkai — continues to underpin a partnership now measured in trade figures and joint statements.

<p>As Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets Narendra Modi in Delhi for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, the bilateral relationship — usually discussed in terms of trade, technology and defence — rests on a much older foundation- a shared Buddhist heritage tracing back to Varanasi.</p>

Kashi to Kyoto: How Buddhism built Asia's oldest, quietest bridge from India to Japan

<p>For decades, oil has shaped global geopolitics, forcing nations to secure crude supplies, as energy has always meant economic power, military strength and diplomatic leverage. However, today, critical minerals have outpaced oil. Instead of competing for oil reserves in West Asia, countries are now racing to secure supplies of lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements—minerals essential for electric vehicles, smartphones, wind turbines, missiles and advanced semiconductors.</p><p><br>In terms of India and Japan, the critical minerals have become a new race other than oil as both the nation has signed an MoU on critical minerals, batteries and AI. Critical minerals act as the foundational building blocks of modern technology, clean energy transitions, and national defence.</p><h3>Why do these minerals matter?</h3><p>Silicon, tellurium, and indium are essential for the photovoltaic cells in solar panels, while rare earth elements (like neodymium) are used to create the powerful permanent magnets inside wind turbines. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite are the backbone of lithium-ion batteries powering EVs and grid storage systems.</p><p><br>Similarly, rare earths, gallium, and germanium are mandatory for manufacturing semiconductors, microchips, LEDs, and smartphones. Whereas, minerals like titanium, beryllium, and tantalum are heavily relied upon to construct fighter jets, submarines, satellites, and precision weaponry. In addition, &nbsp;Copper and aluminium are vital for building and expanding electricity networks.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-blue-waters-to-desert-sands-all-about-india-japan-military-ties-and-defence-agreements-1782977531774">From blue waters to desert sands: All about India-Japan military ties and defence agreements</a></p><h3>Japan-India critical mineral security partnership</h3><p>The critical mineral security partnership between both nations has emerged as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific economic resilience, directly countering China's export restrictions on rare earth elements. Bolstered by frameworks like the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) and bilateral pacts, the collaboration secures the production pipelines for electric vehicles, defence hardware, and semiconductors.</p><p><br>India's wider reserves of lithium, cobalt, and copper merge with Japan’s advanced processing tech and financial capital, will help both the nation accomplishing to meet their need while making components for essential technological items. This strategic synergy ensures a stable, diversified supply of essential minerals, reducing supply-chain vulnerabilities and guaranteeing technological sovereignty for both democracies against geopolitical coercion.</p><p><br>Interestingly, India and Japan offer complementary advantages in the critical minerals sector. India has substantial reserves of several critical minerals and continues to discover new deposits, but it still lacks adequate large-scale refining and processing capacity.</p><p><br>Japan, by contrast, possesses advanced expertise in metallurgy, battery technology and high-end material processing, while having very limited domestic mineral resources. This creates a strong basis for cooperation between the two countries.</p><p><br>Under such a partnership, India can provide the mineral resources, while Japan can contribute technology, investment and manufacturing know-how to transform them into higher-value products. Rather than simply exporting raw ore, India aims to expand domestic refining and processing capabilities, and Japanese investment could play a significant role in accelerating that shift up the value chain.</p><p><br>Hence, the recent deal between India and Japan will pave the way to de-risk supply chains and reduce dependence on dominant single-source suppliers. Japan's advanced processing technology combined with capital and India's substantial raw reserves as well as manufacturing capacity will increasingly formalise wider Indo-Pacific and Quad security frameworks countering China's supply chain dominance.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

The critical mineral security partnership between both nations has emerged as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific economic resilience, directly countering China's export restrictions on rare earth elements. 

For decades, oil has shaped global geopolitics, forcing nations to secure crude supplies, as energy has always meant economic power, military strength and diplomatic leverage. However, today, critical minerals have outpaced oil. Instead of competing for oil reserves in West Asia, countries are now racing to secure supplies of lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements—minerals essential for electric vehicles, smartphones, wind turbines, missiles and advanced semiconductors. In terms of India and Japan, the critical minerals have become a new race other than oil as both the nation has signed an MoU on critical minerals, batteries and AI. Critical minerals act as the foundational building blocks of modern technology, clean energy transitions, and national defence. Why do these minerals matter? Silicon, tellurium, and indium are essential for the photovoltaic cells in solar panels, while rare earth elements (like neodymium) are used to create the powerful permanent magnets inside wind turbines. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite are the backbone of lithium-ion batteries powering EVs and grid storage systems. Similarly, rare earths, gallium, and germanium are mandatory for manufacturing semiconductors, microchips, LEDs, and smartphones. Whereas, minerals like titanium, beryllium, and tantalum are heavily relied upon to construct fighter jets, submarines, satellites, and precision weaponry. In addition, Copper and aluminium are vital for building and expanding electricity networks. Also read: From blue waters to desert sands: All about India-Japan military ties and defence agreements Japan-India critical mineral security partnership The critical mineral security partnership between both nations has emerged as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific economic resilience, directly countering China's export restrictions on rare earth elements. Bolstered by frameworks like the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) and bilateral pacts, the collaboration secures the production pipelines for electric vehicles, defence hardware, and semiconductors. India's wider reserves of lithium, cobalt, and copper merge with Japan’s advanced processing tech and financial capital, will help both the nation accomplishing to meet their need while making components for essential technological items. This strategic synergy ensures a stable, diversified supply of essential minerals, reducing supply-chain vulnerabilities and guaranteeing technological sovereignty for both democracies against geopolitical coercion. Interestingly, India and Japan offer complementary advantages in the critical minerals sector. India has substantial reserves of several critical minerals and continues to discover new deposits, but it still lacks adequate large-scale refining and processing capacity. Japan, by contrast, possesses advanced expertise in metallurgy, battery technology and high-end material processing, while having very limited domestic mineral resources. This creates a strong basis for cooperation between the two countries. Under such a partnership, India can provide the mineral resources, while Japan can contribute technology, investment and manufacturing know-how to transform them into higher-value products. Rather than simply exporting raw ore, India aims to expand domestic refining and processing capabilities, and Japanese investment could play a significant role in accelerating that shift up the value chain. Hence, the recent deal between India and Japan will pave the way to de-risk supply chains and reduce dependence on dominant single-source suppliers. Japan's advanced processing technology combined with capital and India's substantial raw reserves as well as manufacturing capacity will increasingly formalise wider Indo-Pacific and Quad security frameworks countering China's supply chain dominance.

<p>The critical mineral security partnership between both nations has emerged as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific economic resilience, directly countering China's export restrictions on rare earth elements.&nbsp;</p>

India-Japan critical minerals pact: How partnership aims to de-risk supply chains of both nations

<p>The Japanese government is actively exploring the possibility of exporting naval ship communication antennas to India, the Nikkei publication reported. The antennas, known as NORA-50 and nicknamed "UNICORN", were collaboratively developed by a consortium of Japanese companies, including Nippon Electric Company and Yokohama Rubber.</p>

<p>Japanese government insiders cited by Nikkei suggest that the decision on the number of antennas to be sold and the contract costs are still under consideration.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>If the deal materialises, it would mark the second instance of Japan exporting defence equipment since the lifting of a ban on such transfers in 2014 during the prime ministerial tenure of Shinzo Abe.</p>

<p>The first such instance of export from Japan occurred last year when radar systems were exported to the Philippines.</p>

<p>The potential antenna deal between the two Quad partners signifies an expansion of Indo-Japanese ties in the security realm in addition to enhanced deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the 'UNICORN' antenna?</strong></h2>

<p>The UNICORN antenna, currently deployed on Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force FFM escort vessels, is renowned for its stealth design, housing multiple antennas in a distinctive horn-shaped structure.</p>

<p>Its capabilities include detecting the movement of missiles and drones through the sensing of radio waves across a wide area.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Rise of the Indian Defence Industry | Exports cross ₹130 Billion, imports down 11 per cent</strong></p>

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<p>Japanese law prohibits the export of lethal defence equipment. But the UNICORN, due to its categorisation as&nbsp;a communication tool, does not violate this&nbsp;law.</p>

<p>The move to export fully assembled defence equipment, as opposed to parts, is a significant step for Japan.</p>

<h2><strong>UNICORN deal expected during Quad summit: Report</strong></h2>

<p>The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, including Japan, Australia, the United States, and India, is expected to hold a summit in India later this year.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-to-host-quad-summit-in-2024-594495">India to host Quad summit in 2024, work for global welfare, peace, prosperity: PM Modi</a></strong></p>

<p>Sources cited by Nikkei indicate that plans are underway to finalise the UNICORN deal during a meeting between leaders of Japan and India at the summit.</p>

<p>India is gradually diversifying its sources by engaging in agreements with the US, France, and Israel. As part of this shift, negotiations with Japan involve discussions on potential technology transfers and local production of the communication antennas.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Japanese government is actively exploring the possibility of exporting naval ship communication antennas to India, the Nikkei publication reported. The antennas, known as NORA-50 and nicknamed "UNICORN", were collaboratively developed by a consortium of Japanese companies, including Nippon Electric Company and Yokohama Rubber.

The Japanese government is actively exploring the possibility of exporting naval ship communication antennas to India, the Nikkei publication reported. The antennas, known as NORA-50 and nicknamed "UNICORN", were collaboratively developed by a consortium of Japanese companies, including Nippon Electric Company and Yokohama Rubber. Japanese government insiders cited by Nikkei suggest that the decision on the number of antennas to be sold and the contract costs are still under consideration. What does it mean? If the deal materialises, it would mark the second instance of Japan exporting defence equipment since the lifting of a ban on such transfers in 2014 during the prime ministerial tenure of Shinzo Abe. The first such instance of export from Japan occurred last year when radar systems were exported to the Philippines. The potential antenna deal between the two Quad partners signifies an expansion of Indo-Japanese ties in the security realm in addition to enhanced deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. What is the 'UNICORN' antenna? The UNICORN antenna, currently deployed on Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force FFM escort vessels, is renowned for its stealth design, housing multiple antennas in a distinctive horn-shaped structure. Its capabilities include detecting the movement of missiles and drones through the sensing of radio waves across a wide area. Also watch | Rise of the Indian Defence Industry | Exports cross ₹130 Billion, imports down 11 per cent × Japanese law prohibits the export of lethal defence equipment. But the UNICORN, due to its categorisation as a communication tool, does not violate this law. The move to export fully assembled defence equipment, as opposed to parts, is a significant step for Japan. UNICORN deal expected during Quad summit: Report The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, including Japan, Australia, the United States, and India, is expected to hold a summit in India later this year. Also read | India to host Quad summit in 2024, work for global welfare, peace, prosperity: PM Modi Sources cited by Nikkei indicate that plans are underway to finalise the UNICORN deal during a meeting between leaders of Japan and India at the summit. India is gradually diversifying its sources by engaging in agreements with the US, France, and Israel. As part of this shift, negotiations with Japan involve discussions on potential technology transfers and local production of the communication antennas. (With inputs from agencies)

India, Japan expected to finalise 'UNICORN' antennas deal during Quad summit

India & Japan has signed an ambitious agreement that provides cooperation in 5G technology, artificial intelligence, and an array of other critical areas.

WION Dispatch: India & Japan finalise pact for cooperation in 5G tech

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In pics: India welcomes Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi on her maiden visit

India-Japan 16-point roadmap on economic security, AI, energy resilience

Kashi to Kyoto: How Buddhism built Asia's oldest, quietest bridge

India-Japan critical minerals pact: How partnership to de-risk supply chains

India, Japan expected to finalise 'UNICORN' antennas deal during Quad summit

WION Dispatch: India & Japan finalise pact for cooperation in 5G tech