Indian Navy Fields a New Deep-Ops Drone Arsenal, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The Indian Navy is expanding its unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) arsenal to enhance underwater domain awareness.
• Contracts worth ₹47 crore and ₹66 crore were awarded to EyeROV and Coratia Technologies respectively, for ROVs.
• DRDO is developing AI-enabled underwater drone swarms and has contracted Sagar Defence Engineering for underwater-launched UAVs.
• The Navy plans to induct 300-ton XLUUVs for long-range missions and High Endurance AUVs for coastal anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Detailed Insights:

• The Navy's focus on underwater domain awareness is crucial due to increasing submarine activity in the Indian Ocean.
• EyeROV's TROUT-class ROVs can operate beyond 400 meters, equipped with high-resolution sensors for detailed underwater surveys.
• Coratia Technologies' ROVs are designed for mine detection, infrastructure inspection, and offshore security, enhancing maritime safety.
• DRDO's AI-enabled drone swarms aim to provide coordinated tracking and reconnaissance capabilities, improving situational awareness.
• Underwater-launched UAVs from Sagar Defence Engineering represent a niche capability for airborne surveillance from submerged platforms.
• The planned induction of XLUUVs will significantly enhance the Navy's long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
• High Endurance AUVs will strengthen coastal anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, safeguarding India's maritime borders.
• The Navy's strategy emphasizes indigenous technology development to reduce risks in contested waters and counter hostile submarine presence.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle): An unmanned, tethered underwater vehicle controlled remotely by an operator.
• AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle): An unmanned, untethered underwater vehicle that operates independently without real-time control.
• ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance): Activities that collect and process information to support decision-making.
• ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare): Actions taken to locate, track, and neutralize enemy submarines.