A large defense agreement for $131 million was recently approved by the US, enabling India to purchase cutting-edge HawkEye 360 satellite-based surveillance equipment. In the increasingly disputed Indo-Pacific area, this strategic acquisition significantly improves India’s maritime domain awareness capabilities, especially for identifying “dark ships”—vessels that turn off their tracking devices to evade detection.
The agreement, which was approved by the US State Department in late April 2025, comes at a crucial juncture when tensions in the area are on the rise and includes advanced SeaVision software, technical training, and extensive support services. India’s national security posture and its place in regional security frameworks will be strengthened by this technology, which would provide it hitherto unheard-of capabilities to monitor maritime activity throughout its vast territorial waters and beyond.
In order to follow and analyze radio frequency (RF) signals from ships, airplanes, automobiles, other coastal systems, HawkEye 360, a private corporation founded in the United States with its headquarters located in Herndon, Virginia, runs a specialized constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). With its exceptional capacity to uncover hidden and undiscovered activity in the land, sea, and air domains, this state-of-the-art technology represents a revolutionary approach to geospatial information solutions. A wide variety of radio frequency emissions are processed and identified by the system, which then combines this data with information from other sources to give clients previously unheard-of insight into nautical operations that could otherwise go unnoticed.
HawkEye 360 technology’s primary advantage is its unique ability to identify ships that purposefully “go dark” by turning off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders in order to avoid detection by traditional tracking techniques. This is a common tactic used by ships involved in illicit or suspicious maritime activities. Traditional marine surveillance systems, which mostly rely on cooperative tracking processes, have a crucial blind spot that this capability fills.
Even in low-visibility situations or in marine “dead zones” when conventional surveillance techniques are useless, the system can identify suspect vessels by comparing detected radio frequency activity with gaps in AIS reporting. This offers the constant, real-time surveillance capabilities needed to keep an eye on large maritime areas and spot possible security risks.
India has made significant strategic progress with the purchase of HawkEye 360 technology, especially in strengthening its maritime security posture in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the larger Indo-Pacific theater.
With the use of this technology, India will be able to monitor its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the strategically important Indian Ocean Region around-the-clock. Detecting vessels that “go dark” fills a critical void in maritime surveillance, allowing Indian authorities to stay informed about questionable actions that traditional tracking systems would completely overlook. India’s extensive coastline and maritime interests make this capability especially vital.
India’s current marine surveillance systems will be strengthened and complemented by the HawkEye 360 technology, resulting in a more extensive, multi-layered monitoring network.
A more advanced method of maritime surveillance will be made possible by this integration, which will combine satellite monitoring, signal intelligence, and aircraft reconnaissance to provide a more comprehensive operational picture of marine activity. These systems working together will greatly close surveillance gaps and improve India’s capacity to identify and quickly address maritime threats.
An important turning point in US-India defense cooperation, the US clearance of India’s purchase of HawkEye 360 technology represents a revolutionary improvement in India’s maritime surveillance capabilities. This technology fills a major void in maritime domain awareness that has long been exploited by vessels involved in illicit activities or unauthorized incursions with its specialized capacity to detect “dark ships” through sophisticated RF signal monitoring. In addition to significantly enhancing India’s ability to keep an eye on its extensive maritime territory, the $131 million agreement enhances the strategic alliance between the US and India in tackling common security issues in the Indo-Pacific area.
The procurement enhances India’s current surveillance infrastructure to provide a thorough, multi-layered monitoring capability and strategically aligns with larger regional security programs, including the QUAD’s Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness program. This technology will give India useful intelligence on illicit activities, unauthorized territorial incursions, and potential security risks as maritime competition and challenges increase throughout the Indo-Pacific, improving regional stability and national security.
Going forward, efficient training, interagency coordination, and technical assistance will be necessary for the successful integration of this cutting-edge technology into India’s maritime security system. Nonetheless, this is a timely and vital addition to India’s maritime security armory due to the significant advantages in terms of greater law enforcement capabilities, a stronger strategic position, and an improved security posture. When the system is completely functional, it will play a major role in India’s rise to prominence as a competent maritime security supplier in the strategically important Indo-Pacific area.
