The United States has approved the sale of HawkEye 360 technology to India. The move comes at a time when maritime tensions are rising in the Indo-Pacific. The decision, cleared by the US State Department, enables India to improve its maritime domain awareness using advanced satellite capabilities.
According to the State Department, “The proposed sale will improve India's capabilities to meet current and future threats by bolstering its maritime domain awareness, analytical abilities and strategic posture.”
The estimated cost of the package is $131 million. It includes the SeaVision software, preferred software enhancements, training through a technical assistance field team, remote software, analytic support, documentation, and other logistics and programme support.
A statement from the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency added, “The principal contractor will be Hawkeye360, located in Herndon, Virginia.”
Technology to detect vessels that 'go dark'
HawkEye 360 is a private American company that operates a network of satellites in low Earth orbit. These satellites track radio frequency (RF) signals coming from ships, aircraft, vehicles, and coastal systems.
The technology is especially important for detecting vessels that switch off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to evade detection. These so-called ‘dark’ ships pose a significant challenge in disputed waters or areas where illicit activities occur.
HawkEye 360’s system identifies these hidden vessels by picking up RF emissions and analysing them using multiple layers: Electro-Optical (EO) for daytime imaging, Infrared (IR) for detecting thermal signatures, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for radar-based images under any weather or light condition. These layers work together to determine a vessel’s size, speed, and location.
The technology is capable of identifying suspicious patterns—such as repeated AIS gaps—and can correlate them with unknown signal activity. This data allows the Indian Navy to respond quickly and accurately.
What the HawkEye 360 sale means for India
The deal marks a new level of defence cooperation between India and the United States. A US government statement explained, “The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defence partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.”
With the addition of HawkEye 360, India will now gain deeper visibility into its Exclusive Economic Zone. This is expected to help monitor smuggling, illegal fishing, trafficking, and piracy across the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian forces already use platforms such as the P8i maritime patrol aircraft and Sea Guardian drones. The new technology will complement those tools by providing real-time, round-the-clock surveillance—even in areas where ships attempt to avoid detection.
Broader Context: QUAD and regional maritime surveillance
This sale aligns with the goals of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), a strategic partnership involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
In July 2024, following a QUAD foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo, the group expanded its Indo-Pacific maritime domain awareness initiative to cover the Indian Ocean. Originally announced in May 2022, the initiative allows partner nations to closely monitor maritime traffic and identify threats ranging from illegal activity to environmental risks.
The HawkEye 360 deal fits within this framework. It offers India not only better data but also greater independence in acting on that information.
India’s growing focus on maritime security
In 2018, India launched the Information Fusion Centre in the Indian Ocean Region. This facility acts as a regional hub for gathering and analysing shipping data. With the integration of HawkEye 360, the centre will receive even more precise intelligence, helping it track developments in real time.
The system’s ability to operate continuously, regardless of weather or time of day, provides a significant edge.
By closing “dead zones” where ships could once disappear without a trace, India enhances its readiness to face threats at sea and ensures safer navigation in vital trade corridors.
(With inputs from TOI)
According to the State Department, “The proposed sale will improve India's capabilities to meet current and future threats by bolstering its maritime domain awareness, analytical abilities and strategic posture.”
The estimated cost of the package is $131 million. It includes the SeaVision software, preferred software enhancements, training through a technical assistance field team, remote software, analytic support, documentation, and other logistics and programme support.
A statement from the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency added, “The principal contractor will be Hawkeye360, located in Herndon, Virginia.”
Technology to detect vessels that 'go dark'
HawkEye 360 is a private American company that operates a network of satellites in low Earth orbit. These satellites track radio frequency (RF) signals coming from ships, aircraft, vehicles, and coastal systems.
The technology is especially important for detecting vessels that switch off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to evade detection. These so-called ‘dark’ ships pose a significant challenge in disputed waters or areas where illicit activities occur.
HawkEye 360’s system identifies these hidden vessels by picking up RF emissions and analysing them using multiple layers: Electro-Optical (EO) for daytime imaging, Infrared (IR) for detecting thermal signatures, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for radar-based images under any weather or light condition. These layers work together to determine a vessel’s size, speed, and location.
The technology is capable of identifying suspicious patterns—such as repeated AIS gaps—and can correlate them with unknown signal activity. This data allows the Indian Navy to respond quickly and accurately.
What the HawkEye 360 sale means for India
The deal marks a new level of defence cooperation between India and the United States. A US government statement explained, “The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defence partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.”
With the addition of HawkEye 360, India will now gain deeper visibility into its Exclusive Economic Zone. This is expected to help monitor smuggling, illegal fishing, trafficking, and piracy across the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian forces already use platforms such as the P8i maritime patrol aircraft and Sea Guardian drones. The new technology will complement those tools by providing real-time, round-the-clock surveillance—even in areas where ships attempt to avoid detection.
Broader Context: QUAD and regional maritime surveillance
This sale aligns with the goals of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), a strategic partnership involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
In July 2024, following a QUAD foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo, the group expanded its Indo-Pacific maritime domain awareness initiative to cover the Indian Ocean. Originally announced in May 2022, the initiative allows partner nations to closely monitor maritime traffic and identify threats ranging from illegal activity to environmental risks.
The HawkEye 360 deal fits within this framework. It offers India not only better data but also greater independence in acting on that information.
India’s growing focus on maritime security
In 2018, India launched the Information Fusion Centre in the Indian Ocean Region. This facility acts as a regional hub for gathering and analysing shipping data. With the integration of HawkEye 360, the centre will receive even more precise intelligence, helping it track developments in real time.
The system’s ability to operate continuously, regardless of weather or time of day, provides a significant edge.
By closing “dead zones” where ships could once disappear without a trace, India enhances its readiness to face threats at sea and ensures safer navigation in vital trade corridors.
(With inputs from TOI)
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