PM Modi’s France visit: India to discuss sharing of coastal surveillance radars in the Indian Ocean
India and France are expected to firm up discussions on sharing of radars in the Indian Ocean as part of the strategic talks during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris next week.
While India is setting up a grid of coastal surveillance radars in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) that will enable it to monitor, among other things, the increasing Chinese presence in the area, France has expressed interest in sharing data from surveillance systems on its Indian Ocean territories, it is learnt.
As part of bilateral discussions during the PM’s visit, the modalities of sharing maritimedomain awareness data from at least three French monitoring sites in the Indian Ocean is set to be on the agenda. French territories in the region include the Reunion Islands and Mayotte, besides military bases in UAE and Djibouti.
It is learnt that the Indian Navy is keen on the French proposal and has recommended that it be added to an ambitious plan to set up a 24-nation radar grid in IOR to monitor all traffic – civilian and military. The 24 nation plan – which is currently pending a formal clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security – looks at integrating radars from most littorals of the region with the Indian coastal radar chain.
As part of the plan, India could also lend financial aid to littoral nations for setting up radars. In the future, surveillance data from other military sites, including the American base at Diego Garcia, could be integrated.
As reported by ET, a Rs 600-crore project to set up a Coastal Surveillance Radar Systemin the Indian Ocean is underway as part of New Delhi’s plans to increase maritime domain awareness in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
While coastal surveillance radars have been set up in Sri Lanka (6), Mauritius (8) andSeychelles (1), ten radars that have to come up in Maldives have hit a block due to political uncertainty that led to the cancellation of Modi’s visit to Male last month.
The moves come even as China has turned more active in IOR and has been attempting to expand its footprints in India’s extended neighbourhood as part of the grand Maritime Silk Route launched last year, according to experts. Besides Beijing wants to safeguard the sea lanes of communication through which its trade passes amid growing incidents of piracy along Africa’s eastern coast. Seychelles has been viewed by China as a possible replenishment port for navy ships taking part in anti-piracy operations in the region.
PM Modi’s France visit: India to discuss sharing of coastal surveillance radars in the Indian Ocean | idrw.org
India and France are expected to firm up discussions on sharing of radars in the Indian Ocean as part of the strategic talks during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris next week.
While India is setting up a grid of coastal surveillance radars in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) that will enable it to monitor, among other things, the increasing Chinese presence in the area, France has expressed interest in sharing data from surveillance systems on its Indian Ocean territories, it is learnt.
As part of bilateral discussions during the PM’s visit, the modalities of sharing maritimedomain awareness data from at least three French monitoring sites in the Indian Ocean is set to be on the agenda. French territories in the region include the Reunion Islands and Mayotte, besides military bases in UAE and Djibouti.
It is learnt that the Indian Navy is keen on the French proposal and has recommended that it be added to an ambitious plan to set up a 24-nation radar grid in IOR to monitor all traffic – civilian and military. The 24 nation plan – which is currently pending a formal clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security – looks at integrating radars from most littorals of the region with the Indian coastal radar chain.
As part of the plan, India could also lend financial aid to littoral nations for setting up radars. In the future, surveillance data from other military sites, including the American base at Diego Garcia, could be integrated.
As reported by ET, a Rs 600-crore project to set up a Coastal Surveillance Radar Systemin the Indian Ocean is underway as part of New Delhi’s plans to increase maritime domain awareness in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
While coastal surveillance radars have been set up in Sri Lanka (6), Mauritius (8) andSeychelles (1), ten radars that have to come up in Maldives have hit a block due to political uncertainty that led to the cancellation of Modi’s visit to Male last month.
The moves come even as China has turned more active in IOR and has been attempting to expand its footprints in India’s extended neighbourhood as part of the grand Maritime Silk Route launched last year, according to experts. Besides Beijing wants to safeguard the sea lanes of communication through which its trade passes amid growing incidents of piracy along Africa’s eastern coast. Seychelles has been viewed by China as a possible replenishment port for navy ships taking part in anti-piracy operations in the region.
PM Modi’s France visit: India to discuss sharing of coastal surveillance radars in the Indian Ocean | idrw.org
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