India To Set Up 32 Coastal Radar Surveillance System In Seychelles, Mauritius And Sri Lanka

In a move to deepen security ties with neighboring countries and to counter Chinese maritime traffic, India will set up 32 Coastal Radar Surveillance (CSR) stations with navigational military radars in Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives and Sri Lanka, Local media reported Tuesday.

“On the first leg of the visit, Modi will stop in Seychelles. One of Modi’s key engagements will be handing over of a CSR system,” Navtej Sarna, Secretary in the Foreign Ministry told reporters.

India plans to have eight stations in Seychelles, five of which would be at Mahe and three located in the outer islands. Mauritius will also have eight radar networks, while Maldives will have 10 of them. Former Defense Minister A K Anthony had commissioned the stations in Mauritius about two years ago.

Sri Lanka has six automatic identification system (AIS) and electro-optical instruments as of now. Other islands will have maritime navigational radar operating on I-band frequency, AIS and electro-optical system for imaging. India can use the data to keep an eye on the Chinese maritime traffic.

Another country that India is planning to set up CSRs is the Maldives, defence sources said adding that an MoU for 10 such systems is yet to be signed.