In a strategic development aimed at enhancing India’s maritime surveillance and domain awareness, the United States has approved the sale of HawkEye 360 technology to India in a deal valued at $131 million. The advanced system, developed by US-based private firm HawkEye 360, will significantly bolster India’s ability to monitor its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and detect suspicious maritime activities in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to statements released by the US State Department and the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the deal includes the SeaVision software suite, preferred software enhancements, training support, remote analytics, and technical assistance. The system is designed to enhance India’s capability to counter illegal fishing, smuggling, and dark ship activity—where vessels deactivate their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to avoid detection.
HawkEye 360 operates a constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites capable of detecting, geolocating, and analysing radio frequency (RF) emissions. These emissions, coming from ships, aircraft, vehicles, and coastal systems, provide critical data on activity even when conventional tracking systems fail. This RF-based surveillance is especially useful for identifying vessels operating covertly in disputed or strategic maritime zones.
The system’s integration into India’s existing maritime surveillance infrastructure is expected to complement platforms like the P-8I reconnaissance aircraft and Sea Guardian drones, which are already used by the Indian Navy for long-range monitoring. The added multi-layered sensor capability of HawkEye 360—featuring Electro-Optical (EO) imaging, Infrared (IR) thermal detection, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)—enables round-the-clock monitoring, regardless of weather or visibility.
These layered technologies enhance detection accuracy by verifying the size, speed, emissions, and position of maritime targets, even in complex or cluttered environments. The combination of real-time analytics and AI-powered processing enables faster decision-making for maritime security forces.
The US government emphasized that the deal supports its foreign policy objectives by reinforcing the US-India strategic partnership, particularly in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific and South Asian maritime zones. The HawkEye 360 sale is part of a broader effort to improve the operational readiness of a “major defence partner,” reflecting deepening defence cooperation between the two countries.
As India continues to face regional challenges, including Chinese naval expansion and illegal incursions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the acquisition of this technology is expected to significantly improve India’s situational awareness, deterrence, and maritime response capability.
