India and Australia have launched their first-ever bilateral defence science and technology project focused on undersea surveillance, aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. It was announced alongside the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington, D.C. (July 2025). It signifies strategic convergence in maritime domain awareness and tech cooperation
Project Highlights
| Focus Area | Details |
| Primary Objective | Early detection & tracking of underwater threats like submarines and AUVs |
| Technology in Use | Towed Array Target Motion Analysis (TMA) systems; advanced signal processing & ML |
| Surveillance Platform | Towed array hydrophones to listen to underwater acoustic signatures |
| Project Duration | 3 years |
| Goal | Develop stealth-enabled passive surveillance systems with high accuracy |
| Key Agencies Involved | India – Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Australia – Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) |
India’s Strategic Context
- The Indian Navy is increasingly deploying indigenous Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).
- Equipped with:
- GENISYS Self-Learning C2 module (developed by SDEPL)
- Advanced sonar, encrypted links, imaging tech
- Applications include:
- Anti-submarine warfare
- Mine countermeasures
- Monitoring Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs)
Broader QUAD Agenda
- Strengthening Indo-Pacific maritime security and technology-driven defence collaboration
- Upholding UNCLOS and regional maritime law
- Resisting unilateral actions in the South China Sea
- Focus on interoperability and real-time undersea intelligence
Why It Matters
- First India–Australia bilateral project in undersea defence technology
- Enhances underwater domain awareness (UDA) and multilateral deterrence via QUAD
- Supports India’s vision under SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)