Varunastra (torpedo)

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Varunastra
Varunastra.jpg
Varunastra
TypeHeavyweight anti-submarine torpedo
Place of origin India
Service history
In service29 June 2016 [1]
Used byNaval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy
Production history
Designer Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (DRDO)
Manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited
Unit cost₹10 crore (US$1.2 million) - ₹12 crore (US$1.4 million) [2]
No. builtUnknown
Specifications
Mass1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
Length7.78 m (25.5 ft)
Diameter533.4 mm (21.00 in)
Warhead High explosive
Warhead weight250 kg (550 lb) [3]
EngineElectric
Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries
Operational
range
40 km (25 mi) [4] to 50 km (31 mi) [5]
Maximum depth600 metres (2,000 ft) [3]
Maximum speed 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) [3] to 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph) [6]
Guidance
system
Wire-guided, active-passive acoustic homing. Augmented by GPS/NavIC satellite guidance. [7]
Launch
platform

The Varunastra (Literally Projectile of Varuna ) is an Indian advanced autonomous heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo, developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. It is named after a legendary weapon created by the Hindu god of the oceans, Varuna. [9]

Contents

The ship launched variant of Varunastra torpedo was formally inducted in the Indian navy by defence minister Manohar Parrikar on 26 June 2016. [1] [10] The minister in his speech said that the Government is in favour of exporting the torpedo to friendly nations including Vietnam. [11] [12] With some minor modifications the submarine variant of the torpedo is to be test fired shortly. [13]

Design

This torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 kW (340 hp) Silver Oxide-Zinc (AgOZn) batteries. [14] It can achieve speeds in excess of 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph), weighs around 1.5 tonnes and can carry 250 kg (550 lb) of conventional warhead. This torpedo has more than 95 per cent indigenous content. Varunastra has conformal array transducer which enables it look at wider angles than most common torpedoes. It also has an advanced autonomous guidance algorithms with low drift navigational aids, insensitive warhead which can operate in various combat scenarios. It is the only torpedo in the world to have a GPS-based locating aid. [2] [15] [16] The exercise variant of Varunastra has integrated instrumentation system for recording all the dynamic parameters of the weapon, redundancy in recovery aids in case of emergency shut down or malfunction. [2]

Development

In May 2014 it was reported that the Indian Navy is scheduled to carry out User Evaluation Trials (UETs) during the mid-year period. The assembly of the prototype was done by a team from Bharat Dynamics Limited at the Talwar facility of NSTL in Visakhapatnam. [17]

In FY2015-16, the torpedo underwent 130 technical trials while 14 user trials were conducted between January and March 2015. In September 2015, MoD granted final approval for the torpedo's User Evaluation Trials (UETs) and eventually it was accepted for induction into Services. [16]

Varunastra will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited in association with NSTL. [15]

During Aero India 2017, it was reported that DRDO has begun test-firing of a submarine-launched variant of the torpedo. A Sindhughish-class submarine is being used as the launch platform for the development. The variant was reportedly accepted and ready for production. [18] [19]

In April 2018, Bharat Dynamics Limited obtained a license to manufacture Varunastra from the DRDO. [20] In June 2019, Ministry of Defence awarded a contract worth ₹1,187 crore (equivalent to ₹15 billionorUS$170 million in 2023) to Bharat Dynamics Limited to supply Varunastra to the Indian Navy. [21]

On 5 June 2023, Varunastra was fired by a Kamorta-class corvette at an Under Water Target System (UWTS) laid by INS Jalashwa. This was the first trial where the torpedo was equipped with High Explosive (HE) live warhead. [22] On 6 June, the Navy successfully conducted combat trial of Varunastra. The torpedo was fired from a submarine and successfully hit an underwater target. [23] [16] [24]

In September 2024, Apollo Micro Systems Limited received an order for Software Defined Universal Homing System for the Heavy Weight Torpedo from Bharat Dynamics Limited. [25]

Further development

Thermal Heavy Weight Torpedo Shakti

Shakti Thermal Torpedo Shakti Thermal Torpedo.jpg
Shakti Thermal Torpedo

Shakti heavyweight torpedo uses thermal propulsion technology in contrast to the Varunastra torpedo which uses electric propulsion. The torpedo employs monopropellant fuel, which allows combustion to take place without aerial oxygen, and a pumpjet. Its propulsion unit generates 400 kW of power for faster acceleration. It can operate at a maximum depth of 600 metres (2,000 ft), a maximum speed of 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph). The first image emerged publicly in Twitter on 9 June 2023 which hinted that the torpedo is going sea trials. [26] [27] [28] [29]

Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo Takshak

Takshak torpedo is the advanced version of the Varunastra torpedo which employs an electric battery for propulsion. It has a length of 6.4 metres (21 ft) which is shorter from the previous variant, enabling to be launched from submarines. It also features Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System (RLG INS) as well as GPS/NavIC-based guidance. Takshak has 2 variants: submarine-launched with wire guidance and ship-launched with autonomous guidance. The torpedo, as of May 2024, is ready for sea trials with the Indian Navy which will pave way for induction for deployment. [30] [31]

On 30 December 2024, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract, worth ₹ 877 crore (US$100 million), with the French Naval Group to integrate DRDO developed Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo Takshak (EHWT) on Kalvari-Class submarines. [32] [33]

Operators

Flag of India.svg  India

Possible operators

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 "Varunastra joins the Navy; 9 things you must know". Rediff News. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
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  4. ↑ "Indian Navy commissions fourth and final Kamorta-class corvette". Janes.com. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
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  10. 1 2 "Anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra inducted in Navy". The Indian Express. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "India joins elite group of eight with anti-submarine Varunastra in arsenal". The New Indian Express. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Eye on China, Delhi offers heavy torpedoes to Vietnam". The Times of India. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
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  15. 1 2 Jain, Smriti (30 June 2016). "Varunastra: 5 things to know about the lethal DRDO torpedo for Indian Navy". The Financial Express. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
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  19. ↑ "India To Test Fire Home-Made Torpedo From Russian EKM Class Submarine". www.defenseworld.net. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
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  21. ↑ Rao, Sushil (14 June 2019). "India set to join heavyweight torpedo club". The Times of India.
  22. ↑ "Indian Navy undertakes first combat firing of Varunastra torpedo". Default. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  23. 1 2 "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - YEAR END REVIEW 2023". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  24. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (6 June 2023). "Indigenous heavy weight torpedo hits bull's eye in live test by Indian Navy". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  25. ↑ "Apollo Micro Systems wins order from Bharat Dynamics - Check details ,Companies News, Business News | Zee Business". www.zeebiz.com. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
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  31. ↑ "India's Next-Gen Torpedo, Takshak, Set for Sea Trials: A Deep Dive into BDL's Latest Innovation". Defence.in. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  32. ↑ "Rs 877 crore contract signed with Naval Group, France for integration of Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo to augment fire power capabilities of Kalvari-Class submarines". Press Information Bureau. Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
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  34. ↑ "Hon'ble RM hands over Varunastra to Indian Navy". Indian Navy. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
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  37. ↑ "Indian Navy to soon get first batch of indigenously-built torpedo Varunastra". DNA India . 9 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.

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