Indian Navy's maritime domain awareness sets the gold standard

India's maritime surveillance is anchored by its advanced Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN), comprising 46 static radar stations strategically positioned along its 11,098 km coastline.

- ASHISH SINGH

In the dynamic maritime environment of the Indo-Pacific, accurate surveillance and swift response capabilities are indispensable. Recent narratives from Pakistan have attempted to cast doubt on the Indian Navy's preparedness, claiming vulnerabilities and questioning its strategic reliability. However, the realities of India's robust Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) capabilities and advanced electronic warfare (EW) and secure communications systems effectively dismiss such assertions, reinforcing India's established role as a trusted regional security provider.

UNMATCHED MARITIME SURVEILLANCE INFRASTRUCTURE

India's maritime surveillance is anchored by its advanced Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN), comprising 46 static radar stations strategically positioned along its 11,098 km coastline. These installations provide continuous, gap-free coverage, monitoring critical sea lanes vital to the Indian economy and broader Indo-Pacific stability. Recent expansions include stations in the Maldives, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, ensuring a multi-layered and cooperative approach to regional maritime security.

Complementing radar installations, India leverages sophisticated satellite assets, including the RISAT-series synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites and Cartosat-3, which offer sub-meter resolution imagery even in adverse weather conditions. India's ambitious Space-based Surveillance-3 scheme aims to deploy 52 ISR satellites by 2026, significantly enhancing maritime reconnaissance capabilities and providing a persistent, real-time surveillance net.