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Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held wide-ranging talks with senior Japanese officials in Tokyo to review the expanding India-Japan defence partnership, with cooperation in the defence industry, maritime security, cyber, space and advanced technologies dominating the agenda. His visit also coincided with Japan’s renewed push to secure an Indian order for its Mogami-class stealth frigates under a technology-transfer and local-production arrangement.
The eighth India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue was co-chaired on Monday by Singh and Japan’s Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs, Kano Koji. The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral defence cooperation. They assessed progress since the previous dialogue while reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
The discussions covered the evolving regional and global security environment. They included ongoing defence engagements and military-to-military exchanges. Cooperation between the two countries’ joint headquarters was also a topic. Maritime security was addressed during the discussions. The talks included bilateral and multilateral exercises. Capacity building was a key focus as well. Finally, they discussed defence equipment and technology collaboration.
Both sides also agreed to deepen cooperation in emerging areas such as defence manufacturing, cybersecurity, space, and advanced technologies, while stressing the importance of regular high-level exchanges. They reviewed preparations for the next India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Dialogue scheduled later this year.
As part of the visit, Singh toured Japan’s Joint Operations Command on July 13, underlining the growing operational cooperation between the two countries and their shared commitment to maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
A key highlight of the visit was Singh’s tour of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s JS Niyodo, the seventh Mogami-class stealth frigate, at the Kure naval base in Hiroshima on Tuesday. He also met Vice Admiral Matsumoto Tamotsu, Commandant of the Kure District. The Defence Ministry said the visit reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation.
The visit assumes significance as India evaluates Japan’s proposal to build the Mogami-class frigates in India under the ‘Make in India’ programme. Defence Ministry sources said Tokyo has offered to transfer the warship’s design, production rights and critical technologies, marking one of the most significant departures from Japan’s traditionally restrictive defence export policy.
The Japanese proposal is understood to include integrating Indian systems, such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with construction likely to be undertaken by either Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) or Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). If finalised, it would become Japan’s first major defence platform export to India.
Japan’s offer follows its recent relaxation of defence export rules. It comes after Australia selected an upgraded Mogami-class design under the SEA 3000 General Purpose Frigate programme, giving Tokyo its biggest overseas naval export opportunity so far.
Also Read: Australia, Japan Seal $10 Billion Frigate Deal to Bolster Indo-Pacific Security
The 3,900-tonne Mogami-class frigates are designed for multi-role operations with a high degree of automation, enabling a crew of around 90. The ships are equipped with a 127-mm Mk 45 gun, Type-17 anti-ship missiles, SeaRAM close-in weapon system and a 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launching system.
The proposal, however, will be assessed alongside the Indian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding plans. With the Project 17A frigate programme nearing completion and the follow-on Project 17B under consideration, induction of a new foreign design would require a parallel logistics and maintenance ecosystem despite Japan’s offer of extensive technology transfer.
Also Read: Tokyo Relaxes Arms Rules, India Eyes Gains but Structural Hurdles Persist
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited New Delhi in the first week of this month, where she pushed to strengthen defence and security ties between Japan and India. During her visit for the 16th annual India-Japan summit, she and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed their first joint defence co-development pact. This agreement includes the co-development of the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) system for Indian warships, expanded maritime drills, and broader economic security roadmaps.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
