US Greenlights HawkEye 360 Deal to Strengthen India’s Surveillance Network

Speedy Summary

• US Agreement: The US State Department has approved the sale of HawkEye 360 technology to India for enhanced maritime surveillance, costing an estimated $131 million.
• Technology Details: HawkEye 360 uses satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) that analyze radio frequency (RF) signals. It helps detect vessels operating ‘dark’ without Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
• Capabilities: Indian forces can use this technology to monitor illegal fishing,smuggling,and strategic movements across its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

– Other systems include Electro-Optical (EO),Infrared sensors (IR),and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR),which combine under the constellation for highly accurate tracking during all-whether conditions.

• Software and Support Package: India requested enhancements to SeaVision software, training, technical assistance field teams, analytic support, logistics documentation.
• Strategic Impact:

– helps bolster India’s maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific amid growing regional security challenges.
– Enhances detection abilities complementing Indian Navy’s existing P8i reconnaissance aircraft and Sea Guardian drones.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The approval of HawkEye 360 technology sale underscores deepening strategic ties between India and the US in addressing regional security challenges. By acquiring cutting-edge geospatial analytics capability backed by advanced satellite systems like EO,IR sensors,RF identification tools and SAR imaging layers-India gains a significant upgrade in detecting threats within its waters effectively.This move complements India’s ongoing efforts for stronger maritime surveillance through platforms like P8i aircrafts or drones while broadening operational visibility over disputed regions or gray activities such as smuggling or illegal fishing critical erosion impacting EEZ stability successful preventative buffer zone overhaul watchdog areas monitoring integrity.