India to develop new advanced variants of torpedoes

Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of India, a premier DRDO lab making elaborate preparations for the transfer of technology (TOT) on advanced versions of heavy and lightweight torpedoes, along with Visakhapatnam, is poised to find a place in the world map of underwater weapon production.


Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of India, a premier DRDO lab making elaborate preparations for the transfer of technology (TOT) on advanced versions of heavy and lightweight torpedoes, along with Visakhapatnam, is poised to find a place in the world map of underwater weapon production.


India to develop new advanced variants of torpedoes A Varunastra, an electric underwater torpedo designed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (Picture Source: EPS)


Visakhapatnam has already emerged as the main hub for the production of underwater weapons with the establishment of a dedicated facility by Bharat Dynamics Ltd, a defence PSU. Currently, only America and a few other countries are able to manufacture such torpedoes. Varunastra torpedoes are said to be seven to eight metre long with a weight of 1,500 kg.

The Navy recently signed a contract with BDL to manufacture heavyweight anti-submarine torpedoes Varunastra in association with NSTL. The contract will be executed over a period of 42 months. The torpedoes which have already been inducted into the Navy are electrically propelled underwater weapons equipped with atomic and remote controlled guided systems.

The weapons equipped with self-guided systems using artificial intelligence would have higher speed and accuracy to hit the targets, he said. He said there was good progress with regard to Mode-1 of advanced heavyweight torpedoes.

It can travel at 74 kph carrying a warhead of 250 kg.Visakhapatnam is also home to the headquarters of Eastern Naval Command. Another futuristic naval base is under development at Rambilli near here for docking of nuclear powered Arihant-class submarines. The Arihant-class submarines are under construction at L&T-managed Ship Building Centre in the city.