New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed a new generation of Man-portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MP-AUVs) designed to strengthen India’s naval mine countermeasure capabilities. The breakthrough comes from the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, which led the development of the advanced underwater systems.
The MP-AUV system features multiple compact AUV units equipped with Side Scan Sonar and underwater cameras as primary payloads for real-time detection and classification of mine-like objects. The vehicles leverage onboard deep learning-based target recognition algorithms that enable autonomous classification, significantly reducing operator workload and accelerating mission timelines.
To enhance coordinated operations, DRDO has integrated a robust underwater acoustic communication system that supports inter-AUV data exchange, thereby improving situational awareness during complex missions.
According to DRDO, recent field trials conducted at NSTL’s harbour facilities have validated key system parameters and mission-critical objectives. With participation from multiple industry partners in the system’s realisation, the MP-AUVs are expected to be ready for production in the coming months.
Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, and Chairman, DRDO, lauded the NSTL team for the achievement, calling it a major milestone in advancing deployable, intelligent, and networked mine countermeasure solutions. He said the new system offers rapid response capability with reduced operational risks and a lower logistic footprint, positioning it as a critical asset for naval mine warfare applications.
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