NEW DELHI – Indian Navy is all set to get a new category of warship in itsarsenal in the near future. The Navy is looking to lay its hands onunderwater drones or unmanned submarines with the capability to track andattack enemy submarines in the next three years.
According to Russian news website Sputnik as well as Defence, SecurityIntelligence and Analysis portal Jane’s 360, the Indian Navy wants the miniunmanned submarines or underwater drones equipped with passive sonar deviceto ensure that its nuclear-powered attack submarines can perform a moreoffensive role.
Sputnik claims the Navy’s draft tender document says, “The underwater droneshould be capable of missions lasting a minimum of 15 days at an economicalspeed of 3 knots.” The Navy wants to complete the acquisition of theunmanned submarines by 2021.
Jane’s 360 had on June 1, 2018 reported that the Indian Navy had issued twoseparate requests for information (RFIs) for unmanned underwater andsurface vessels. The Navy wants 12 unmanned surface vessels (USVs), nolonger than 12 metres each, with replaceable mission modules along with asimulator to train its personnel in mine countermeasures (MCM) andanti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions.
On the other hand, there is a requirement for eight high enduranceautonomous underwater vehicles (HEAUVs) or underwater drones along with asimulator for training. Apart from MCM and ASW missions, the drones shouldalso be capable of collecting oceanographic data collection.
The Navy wants transfer of technology under the “Make in India” plan aspart of the deal if the warships are provided by a foreign company.
Sputnik reports that the Chinese navy has been operating Qianlong III andHaiyan underwater drones for the last several years.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has already developedan Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) as technology demonstrator. The AUVplatforms were being tested for a variety of roles including surveillanceand mine countermeasures, the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar hadtold the Lok Sabha in March 2015.