India to Localize Production of Japan’s Latest UNICORN Ship Masts

Japan and India have signed their first bilateral agreement on the joint development of defense products.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on this.

The first joint project will focus on the development and licensed production of the UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) shipborne communications mast.

Although the system was developed by NEC Corporation, India is seeking to integrate its own sensors and antennas for installation on its naval vessels using Japanese technology.

India has expressed interest in the system for several years. In November 2024, Japan and India finalized an agreement on the export of UNICORN multifunctional masts to India under their strategic partnership framework.

Within the project, production in India will be carried out by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in cooperation with Japanese partners. Japan will provide design technologies, while India will handle integration and localization of production, in line with the “Make in India” initiative.

The UNICORN masts are expected to gradually replace existing systems on Indian Navy vessels.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that the Japanese government invited India to join a joint program with the United Kingdom and Italy to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

What is UNICORN?

UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna), also known as NORA-50, is an integrated mast system developed by NEC Corporation, Sampa Kogyo K.K., and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. for Japan’s Mogami-class frigates.

The system integrates multiple sensors into a single structure, reducing the number of external antennas mounted on a ship’s superstructure.

Development took place between 2015 and 2016, with serial production beginning in 2018. Installation on Mogami-class frigates started in 2019.

The mast integrates an omnidirectional surveillance radar antenna, electronic support measures (ESM) antennas, Wi-Fi antenna, Link 16 antenna, UHF transmit/receive antennas, identification friend-or-foe (IFF) antennas, VHF/UHF communications antennas, a tactical navigation system, and a lightning conductor.

Its design also reduces the ship’s radar cross-section, improving stealth characteristics and lowering detectability at sea.