SOURCE: AFI
In a significant leap for India’s maritime defence capabilities, the Indian Navy is set to benefit from a pioneering collaborative research project between the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This initiative, focused on developing advanced underwater tiles to enhance the stealth of Indian Navy submarines, promises to reduce their detectability by enemy sonar systems, bolstering India’s naval power and advancing its self-reliance in defence technology. With a budget of ?1.4 crore, this project not only underscores India’s commitment to indigenous innovation but also hints at its potential global impact.
Submarines are the silent sentinels of naval warfare, relying on stealth to evade detection and strike with precision. The primary goal of this NIT Rourkela-DRDO collaboration is to develop cutting-edge underwater tiles that can absorb or scatter sound waves, making Indian Navy submarines nearly invisible to enemy active sonar systems. Sonar, which detects submerged objects by emitting sound pulses and analyzing their echoes, is a submarine’s greatest vulnerability. By minimizing acoustic signatures, these tiles could give Indian submarines a decisive edge in contested waters, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where strategic rivalries with China and Pakistan are intensifying.
The Indian Navy currently operates a fleet of 16 conventional submarines—including the Kalvari-class (Scorpene) and Sindhughosh-class (Kilo)—alongside the nuclear-powered Arihant-class. While these platforms are equipped with modern sensors and weapons, their stealth capabilities could be significantly enhanced with this new technology, aligning with the Navy’s vision of maintaining a credible underwater deterrent.
Researchers at NIT Rourkela, in partnership with DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), are designing these advanced underwater tiles using innovative materials and structures. The tiles are engineered to either absorb incoming sound waves—converting acoustic energy into heat—or scatter them in multiple directions, reducing the coherent echo that sonar relies on for detection. This dual approach draws inspiration from anechoic coatings used on submarines like Russia’s Yasen-class or the U.S. Virginia-class, but with a focus on affordability and indigenous production.
The project involves rigorous testing of small-scale tile prototypes in a specialized water-filled cylindrical device that simulates underwater conditions. This setup allows researchers to analyze the tiles’ acoustic properties, such as sound absorption coefficient and scattering efficiency, under controlled pressures and frequencies. The results so far are promising, with early prototypes reportedly achieving significant reductions in sonar visibility, though exact performance metrics remain classified.
Funded with a ?1.4 crore grant—split between DRDO and NIT Rourkela’s research budget—this initiative reflects India’s growing emphasis on “Make in India” in defence. The collaboration leverages NIT Rourkela’s expertise in materials science and engineering alongside DRDO’s decades-long experience in naval R&D, notably through NMRL, which has previously developed stealth coatings for surface ships. The ?1.4 crore investment, though modest compared to global submarine programs, highlights the project’s role as a seed for broader technological advancements, with potential scaling-up once the technology matures.
The focus on indigenous development is strategic. India has historically relied on foreign suppliers—Russia, France, and Germany—for submarine technology, often at high cost and with limited control over intellectual property. By perfecting these underwater tiles domestically, the Navy can reduce dependence on imports, lower maintenance costs, and tailor the technology to its specific operational needs.
While the primary aim is to bolster naval stealth, the technology’s applications extend beyond the battlefield. In marine research, sound-absorbing tiles could equip submersibles to study marine life without disturbing ecosystems sensitive to acoustic pollution. In the oil and gas sector, these tiles could enhance the stealth of underwater drones used for deep-sea exploration, protecting them from detection by competitors or hostile entities. This dual-use potential amplifies the project’s value, positioning India as a hub for innovative maritime technologies.
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