KOCHI: The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully tested a small surveillance submarine for the Navy in Kochi Bay. The High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HEAUV) manufactured at the Kochi Shipyard conducted a trial run near the International Ship Repair Facility yesterday.

The sensor-equipped submarine can operate under the sea and on the battlefield. It will be about ten meters long. Battery life is 15 days. It can hold people. It has mine protection armour and a radar intelligence system. It can be transported by ship and by road on a trailer.

The test was done on surface water and underwater. DRDO noted on X that the submarine is capable of military missions. Details have not been released.

Submarine drones are also in the making

DRDO's next target is unmanned submarine drones. 'Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV).' Unmanned vehicles are built to avoid casualties on the battlefield. It will be 50 meters long, 5 meters wide and weigh 300 tons. Maximum speed is eight nautical miles per hour. It will carry 10 tons of weapons including torpedoes and can be used for warfare above and below the sea. The movement of the enemy can also be observed. Battery life is 45 days.

It will be one of the largest XLUUVs in the world. It will compete with the US Navy's Orca and Russia's Sarma-D. Germany also has submarine drones. China is just developing these.

Indian Navy has 19 submarines. These are in the Arihant, Kalvari, Shishumar and Sindhughosh series.

Maiden Surface run of High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HEAUV) meeting all the mission parameters were carried out successfully at Cochin Shipyard, International Ship Repair Facility(ISRF) Jetty, Kochi. @defenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/GuwM9UBQlA

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) March 7, 2024