SOURCE: AFI
India has achieved a significant milestone in its maritime defense capabilities with the successful trial of its first moored autonomous underwater sonar system, conducted by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The trial, held from May 17–19, 2025, in the Bay of Bengal, marks a pioneering effort in the country and aligns with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative to bolster underwater domain awareness (UDA). This development enhances India’s ability to monitor subsurface threats along its strategic east and west coasts, strengthening its maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
The NPOL team deployed and retrieved the moored autonomous underwater sonar system at a deep-sea location, approximately 300 meters below the sea surface. The battery-operated, platform-independent, fully-fledged sonar system underwent a comprehensive evaluation of its performance across different acoustic ranges. The deployment involved complex operations, including the use of subsurface floats, acoustic release mechanisms, and sinker weights, all executed seamlessly over the three-day period. The successful retrieval after the trial confirmed the system’s reliability and operational integrity, marking a first-of-its-kind achievement for India’s defense research ecosystem.
The sonar system is designed to operate independently, collecting and transmitting data on underwater activities without requiring continuous human intervention or a host platform. Its ability to function at varying depths and acoustic ranges makes it a versatile tool for detecting submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and other subsurface targets, addressing critical gaps in India’s maritime surveillance capabilities.
The trial underscores India’s growing focus on underwater domain awareness (UDA), a key component of its maritime strategy amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The system’s deployment in the Bay of Bengal, a strategically vital region due to its proximity to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and major shipping lanes, enhances India’s ability to monitor adversarial submarine activities, particularly from China and Pakistan. The technology also supports surveillance along the east and west coasts, where underwater threats pose a significant challenge to national security.
As part of the DRDO’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the development of this indigenous sonar system reduces India’s reliance on foreign technology for underwater surveillance. The successful trial paves the way for the creation of a network of Autonomous Acoustic Sensor Nodes, which can be strategically placed to provide real-time data on subsurface movements, improving the Indian Navy’s situational awareness and response capabilities.
The moored autonomous sonar system represents a leap forward in India’s indigenous defense technology, building on the NPOL’s expertise in sonar and underwater acoustics. The system’s design incorporates advanced signal processing, long-endurance batteries, and robust mooring mechanisms, ensuring it can withstand harsh marine environments. The trial’s success validates the DRDO’s ability to develop complex underwater systems, setting the stage for further advancements in maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
Looking ahead, the DRDO plans to refine the system based on trial feedback, with potential upgrades including enhanced sensor sensitivity, extended operational range, and integration with unmanned platforms. The technology could also be scaled for deployment across India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and critical choke points, such as the Strait of Malacca and the Persian Gulf, strengthening the Navy’s layered defense strategy.
The development and deployment of such systems involve significant technical challenges, including ensuring durability against corrosion, maintaining acoustic performance in deep-sea conditions, and securing data transmission from remote locations. The NPOL’s collaboration with Indian industry and academic institutions, such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and private defense firms, has been instrumental in overcoming these hurdles. Future iterations may involve partnerships with global technology leaders to integrate cutting-edge materials and artificial intelligence for real-time threat analysis.
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