INDO-PACIFIC MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS – INTERNATIONAL

News: Quad’s IPMDA a proof of our commitment to a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific: Navy Chief

 

What's in the news?

       The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative, announced by the Quad grouping, is a testament to our commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar said, stressing that building networks and partnerships would be instrumental in ensuring the security and stability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

       On force modernisation, he said they were on track to be a 170 to 180 ships and submarines Navy by 2028.

 

Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness:

       The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative was announced by the Quad grouping at the 2022 Quad Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo.

 

Aim:

       To enhance maritime security and shared domain awareness in the region via technology and training support.

 

Objectives:

       To establish a comprehensive system for monitoring and securing maritime activities in the Indo-Pacific.

       To ensure the safety of critical sea lines of communication.

       Promote cooperation among like-minded nations in the region.

 

Significance:

       The initiative will help the Indo-Pacific partners to rapidly detect and respond to a wide range of challenges such as dark shipping, humanitarian crisis among others.

       Dark ships are vessels with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) – a transponder system – switched off so as not to be detectable.