Coastal radar network
Context: India looks at integrating more countries into coastal radar network. Efforts are in advanced stages to set up coastal radar stations in Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
- As part of efforts to further expand the coastal radar chain network meant to enable real time monitoring of the high seas for threats as also expand India’s assistance for capacity building to Indian Ocean littoral states, efforts are in advanced stages to set up coastal radar stations in Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
- Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka have already been integrated into the country’s coastal radar chain network.
- Similar plans are in the pipeline with Maldives and Myanmar and discussions are ongoing with Bangladesh and Thailand.
Nodal agency
- The Indian Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) located in Gurugram which was set up after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks is the nodal agency for maritime data fusion.
- As part of information exchange regarding traffic on the high seas, the Navy has been authorised by the government to conclude white shipping agreements with 36 countries and three multilateral constructs.
- So far agreements have been concluded with 22 countries and one multilateral construct. Of these, 17 agreements and the one multilateral construct have been operationalised.
Info fusion centre
- Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), was meant to promote Maritime Domain Awareness.
- International Liaison Officers (ILO) from France, Japan and the U.S. have already joined the centre.
- IFC-IOR had established itself as the hub of maritime security information in the IOR through white shipping exchange agreements with 21 countries and 20 maritime security centres.
- Under Phase-I of the coastal radar chain network, 46 coastal radar stations have been set up across the country’s coastline.
- Under Phase-II of the project, which is currently under way, 38 static radar stations and four mobile radar stations are being set up by the Coast Guard and is in advanced stage of completion.
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