India’s Intelligence Expansion: Tech, Partnerships & Regional Security
New Delhi – India has significantly expanded its intelligence-gathering capabilities and international partnerships since 2014, transforming its strategic posture from one reliant on external intelligence to a more self-reliant and proactive system. This shift, driven by a combination of foundational agreements with the United States, deepened cooperation with Israel and France, and substantial domestic investment in technology, is reshaping India’s ability to monitor regional security threats.
The transformation began with a series of landmark agreements with the U.S. The 2016 Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) facilitated operational coordination and logistical support between the two countries’ militaries. Two years later, the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) enabled India to utilize secure, encrypted communication systems compatible with U.S. Military platforms. Perhaps most crucially, the 2020 Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) granted India access to high-resolution geospatial intelligence, including satellite mapping data and advanced navigational information, significantly enhancing its surveillance capabilities.
These agreements address historical limitations in India’s intelligence infrastructure. Prior to 2014, India’s ability to independently generate comprehensive regional intelligence was constrained by limited indigenous satellite coverage and dependence on external geospatial data, a vulnerability highlighted by the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The agreements with the U.S. Have demonstrably improved India’s ability to monitor military activity and conduct precision surveillance.
Beyond the U.S., India has strengthened intelligence cooperation with Israel, procuring Israeli-origin Heron and Searcher unmanned aerial vehicles for aerial surveillance along sensitive borders and maritime areas. In 2017, India approved the purchase of additional Heron TP drones, capable of operating at higher altitudes and longer ranges. Israeli radar systems and electronic monitoring platforms have further bolstered India’s ability to detect infiltration and monitor border activity.
Intelligence coordination with France has likewise expanded, particularly in the realm of maritime surveillance. France maintains military facilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and shares information with India regarding ship movements, naval deployments, and maritime security threats. This cooperation is critical for monitoring critical sea lanes and naval activity across the region.
A key component of India’s evolving intelligence network is its expanding maritime surveillance infrastructure. India has installed and integrated coastal radar systems in Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, transmitting vessel tracking information to Indian monitoring centers. This network is coordinated through the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), established near Delhi in 2018. The IFC-IOR collects and analyzes maritime traffic data from radar systems, satellite feeds, and partner countries, facilitating intelligence exchange and enhancing maritime situational awareness.
India has also deepened intelligence-sharing arrangements with Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, facilitating the extradition of criminal suspects and strengthening monitoring of terrorism and organized crime networks. Cooperation with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has contributed to counter-terror operations and regional security monitoring.
Alongside these international partnerships, India is investing heavily in domestic intelligence infrastructure. These modernization programs include expanding satellite surveillance capabilities, deploying unmanned aerial systems, integrating artificial intelligence tools for data analysis, and upgrading intelligence platforms used by defense forces, intelligence agencies, police, and paramilitary organizations. Artificial intelligence and data analytics systems are being deployed to process the vast amounts of surveillance data generated by satellites, drones, and radar networks, improving the speed and accuracy of intelligence analysis.
These combined investments are expected to significantly enhance India’s ability to independently collect, analyze, and share actionable intelligence, particularly within its primary region of strategic interest. The expansion of intelligence partnerships and technological capabilities since 2014 has positioned India as a key provider of maritime and regional security intelligence in the Indian Ocean region, reflecting a shift toward greater self-reliance and expanded operational intelligence capacity.
On March 16, 2025, India hosted a security conclave in New Delhi, chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, bringing together intelligence chiefs from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and several other countries to discuss ways to enhance intelligence-sharing to combat terrorism and transnational crime. The outcome of these discussions, and any resulting commitments, remain undisclosed.