The Indo-US Comprehensive Underwater Domain Awareness Roadmap
Callistine Lewis
Research Fellow and Head of Publications at MRC, Pune
Key Highlights
- This article attempts to contextualise the recently announced Indo-US UDA roadmap, the opportunities it represents for India, its domestic capabilities and its allies.
- The 2026 Indo-US Comprehensive Underwater Domain Awareness Roadmap is far more than a traditional defence pact; it is a blueprint for total maritime sovereignty.
- This UDA roadmap establishes a few critical areas of joint collaboration between the two states, such as in submarine tracking, infrastructure protection, maritime surveillance and technology collaborations.
- The Maritime Research Center, Pune has approached this monumental task with its Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) Framework as a Comprehensive, Structured and Inclusive framework by which India can leverage its maritime, coastal and riverine resources.
Why Strategic Alignment in the Underwater Space Is Crucial for India
Callistine J. Lewis
On May 24th 2026, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his first visit to India alongside External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, announced the Indo-US Comprehensive Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) Roadmap, as well as the renewal of the broader 10-year US-India defence partnership framework. This UDA roadmap establishes a few critical areas of joint collaboration between the two states, such as in submarine tracking, infrastructure protection, maritime surveillance and technology collaborations, with an explicit nod towards the ‘Make in India’ approach signalling an intent towards technology transfers and indigenous production. The monumental shift that this agreement could unlock goes far beyond just strategic defence priorities and instead represents an opportunity for India to engage with its maritime territories and resources to revitalise economic growth, utilise the demographic dividend and emerge as a beacon for Third Polarity.
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Callistine Lewis
Research Fellow and Head of Publications at MRC, Pune
Callistine Lewis is a Research Fellow and Head of Publications at the Maritime Research Center, Pune. He did his bachelor's in Political Science and Literature from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, followed by a Master's in Conflict Analysis and Peacebuilding from the Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution. His work revolves around coastal communities, underwater spaces, water governance, and developmental projects that intersect with the environment and policy-making.