Sun Jan 12 17:33:15 UTC 2025: ## India and US to Co-Produce Advanced Sonobuoys for Indian Navy
**NEW DELHI, January 13, 2025** – India and the United States will jointly produce advanced sonobuoys, a crucial technology for detecting submarines, marking a significant step in their defence cooperation. The final assembly of the sonobuoys, manufactured by US company Ultra Maritime (UM), will take place in India, with an operational production line expected to be ready by 2027. This partnership with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), an Indian defence public sector undertaking, will be based in Visakhapatnam.
The announcement, part of the expanding US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET), was made following a visit by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The co-produced sonobuoys will meet US specifications and be compatible with the Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft, as well as MH-60R helicopters and MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones. They are interchangeable with those used by the US and allied navies.
Ultra Maritime has stated its intention to further collaborate with BDL to develop new sonobuoy technologies optimized for the Indian Ocean, and to integrate Indian suppliers into its global supply chain. This initiative aligns with India’s “Make in India” policy.
This development holds strategic importance, especially given China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean. The sonobuoys enhance India’s undersea domain awareness capabilities, complementing its acquisition of other US military platforms, and strengthening cooperation within the Quad grouping (India, US, Japan, Australia). India is also independently developing seabed-mounted sensors for enhanced underwater surveillance. The first deliveries of the MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones are expected in January 2029.
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