Visakhapatnam: Vizag-based Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) has successfully completed all the trials related to Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) with the basic design and is waiting for the Quality Requirements (QR) from the Indian Navy to develop these vehicles, as per their need. An AUV is critical for underwater mine sweeping, mine laying and also to gather intelligence and surveillance of the enemy vessels. Once the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) controlled NSTL receives QR from the Indian Navy, the customised design will be taken up.
The AUV developed by NSTL scientists indigenously can perform tasks around 300-500 mt deep under the sea with lesser noise without being detected by the enemy vessels. "AUV’s basic design is ready with NSTL after undertaking so many user evaluation trials and tests. Now, we have asked the Indian Navy to give us the QR so that we can develop the vehicle according to their need. Once we get it, we will start working on it," NSTL director C.D. Malleshwar told this correspondent.
The AUV developed by NSTL weighs around 1.7 tonne and can carry around 500 kg pay load. The NSTL also has plans to develop the advanced version of these AUVs of larger size with 10-12 tonne weight. According to sources, the AUV designed by the DRDO lab is 4 mt long and 1.4 mt wide and it can move at a speed of about 7 km per hour. "AUVs will enhance underwater surveying capabilities of the Indian Navy," said an Indian Navy official. The NSTL which had added facilities like seakeeping & maneuvering basin had also worked on enhancing seakeeping capabilities of the ships like reducing various signatures released by the naval ships from not to be detected by enemies while moving. NSTL scientists also developed systems that can reduce the noise made by propellers for stealth operations.
