Cutting-Edge Tech For Armed Forces: Orders Placed For 12 Autonomous SWARM Boats And 30 Underwater Vessels

In an effort to incorporate cutting-edge technologies into the Indian Armed Forces, the Indian Navy has placed orders for 12 weaponised autonomous SWARM boats and 30 autonomous underwater SWARM vessels (AUVs) from Mumbai-based company Sagar Defence Engineering (SDE).

Ten of the 12 autonomous swarm boats will be allocated to the navy for sea surveillance, while the remaining two are designated for Indian Army to carry out surveillance operations at the 134 km long Pangong lake in Eastern Ladakh.

Both of these swarm boats and underwater vessels (AUVs) were given acceptance of necessity (AoN) recently on the sidelines of the Swavlamban 2.0 seminar held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 4 to 5 October.

According to a report by The Times of India, Sagar Defence Engineering founder Nikunj Parashar stated, “these swarm boats will provide naval forces with significant tactical advantages in underwater and surface warfare as they have multi-mission capabilities."

These boats are equipped with a 12.7mm gun capable of neutralising any threat, which can be controlled remotely.

The swarm boat, named 'Mata Matangi,' features two advanced cameras, one in the front and one in the back, a radar tracking system for 360-degree surveillance, and the capability to operate continuously for 48 hours with a full fuel tank. It can reach a maximum speed of 50 knots while carrying a payload of 2,000 kg.

Parashar also states that the boat is equipped with ISRP's navigation system NaVIC, ensuring navigation even when GPS is unavailable.

Autonomus Underwater Swarm Vessel (AUVs) — Vimana

Parashar also mentioned, “Besides the unmanned boats, the navy has also ordered 30 underwater swarms of drones called autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) from us."

These AUVs, known as Vimana, will be primarily used for detecting and countering underwater mines, apart from conducting hydrographic survey.

"They are used for mine detection and countermeasure operations," Parashar says about the AUV.

Explaning the process of detecting and neutralising underwater mine he states, "All these AUVs talk to each other under sea. When a mother AUV identifies an underwater mine, it will send another AUV for surveillance and will then dispatch an expandable AUV to neutralise the mine."

In addition to surveillance and mine threat assessment, these AUVs could also be employed for hydrographic surveys and asset monitoring.

SPRINT Scheme

Both these contracts are signed under the SPRINT programme, which is “a scheme to promote niche defence technologies by Indian domestic companies”.

SPRINT stands for Supporting Pole-Vaulting In Research and Development through Innovations for Defence Excellence, which comes under the purview of Technology Development Acceleration Cell and Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation.