The country's strategic defence research crossed a major milestone with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completing the sea trials of the indigenous Underwater Autonomous Vehicle (UWAV), the marine equivalent of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, the vehicle is a mini-submarine with its own intelligence and capabilities to launch surprise surgical strikes on any target across the seas. The crucial phase of tests including its launch from a defence ship and manoeuvring through various depths began early last December. The results were evaluated through January and a confirmation that the tests had met all parameters was arrived at this week.
With this, India joins the league of naval powers with indigenous prowess to propel an unmanned, underwater vehicle that can give jitters to its opponents. The 1.5-tonne, 4.7-metre vehicle can stay underwater for any number of days given the fact that it is powered by silver oxide fuel cells, a variant of the ones used in ballistic missiles.
Once launched from a ship (the sea trials were done from Sagardhwani, a research ship operated by Kochi-based Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) in the Bay of Bengal), the vehicle can dive up to a depth of 50 metres and cover "many nautical miles", sources said.
"We can programme it for a specific mission and once launched it will complete the task and reach a prescribed rendezvous. We have also developed a special launcher for launching it and reclaiming it," sources told this newspaper.
The programme will now move to a project phase where the NSTL will work closely with the Indian Navy to weaponise the UWAV.
Top sources said the UWAV will also serve as a prospective carrier for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. "The advantage is that we can launch it from our waters and wait in safe waters for her to get back after the mission. And at any stage of the operation, we can intervene and control her using remote techniques," sources said.