Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPDMA)

Learn about the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPDMA) initiative, enhancing regional security through real-time maritime surveillance and strategic cooperation.

Table of Contents

Context: India to Acquire Maritime Surveillance Equipment under Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPDMA).

In April 2025, the United States authorised a possible sale of $131 million worth of maritime surveillance technology to India to support the IPMDA program. This comprises SeaVision software and associated equipment and support.

What is Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPDMA)?

Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPDMA) is a technology and training initiative to enhance maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific region.

Launched: During the QUAD leaders’ summit in Tokyo (2022)
- QUAD members: USA, India, Australia and Japan

Objective

To develop and disseminate real-time information on activities like dark shipping in the Indian Ocean.
To integrate 3 critical regions in the Indo-Pacific — the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
To contribute to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
To provide near-real-time, integrated, and cost-effective maritime domain data to partner countries.
To establish a faster, broader, and more accurate maritime surveillance network across the Indo-Pacific.

Dark Shipping

Dark Shipping is a term used to describe a vessel operating with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off, making it difficult to track for maritime authorities.
It is associated with Illegal activities such as Smuggling, Trafficking, Illegal fishing, etc.

Key Features and Mechanisms

Technology-Driven: The program utilises cutting-edge technology, such as commercial satellite radio frequency (RF) data gathering, to track maritime activity.
Information Sharing: It seeks to enhance information-sharing networks between partner countries and regional information fusion centres.
Regional Focus: The IPMDA focuses on three strategic sub-regions of the Indo-Pacific: the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Capacity Building: The project entails training and assistance to partner countries to improve their maritime surveillance capacities.
Integration of Existing Centers: IPMDA aims to interconnect existing regional cooperation mechanisms and Information Fusion Centres.