India looks at integrating more countries into coastal radar network

Context

• Efforts are in advanced stages to set up coastal radar stations in Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

What is Coastal Radar Network?

• It is a part of Coastal Security mechanism.
• It is a surveillance system comprising of Chain of Static Sensors having Radars, Automatic Identification System (AIS), Day/Night Cameras and Met Sensors.
• Under Phase-I of the coastal radar chain network, 46 coastal radar stations have been set up across the country’s coastline.
• Under Phase-II of the project, which is currently under way, 38 static radar stations and four mobile radar stations are being set up by the Coast Guard and is in advanced stage of completion.

How it would be significant?

• It is meant to enable real time monitoring of the high seas for threats.
• It also expands India’s assistance for capacity building to Indian Ocean littoral states.
• Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka have already been integrated

Who is the Nodal agency for the network?

• The Indian Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) located in Gurugram which was set up after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks is the nodal agency for maritime data fusion.