New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam has successfully developed a new generation of Man-portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MP-AUVs), the Ministry of Defence announced on Friday.
Designed for mine-countermeasure missions, the system consists of multiple compact AUVs equipped with side-scan sonar and underwater cameras to detect and classify mine-like objects in real time. Deep learning–based onboard algorithms further enable autonomous target recognition, reducing operator workload and shortening mission duration.
The platform also features a robust underwater acoustic communication system that allows data exchange between AUVs, improving coordination and situational awareness.
According to the ministry, recent field trials at NSTL Harbour validated key performance parameters and mission objectives. With several industry partners involved in its development, the system is expected to enter production within the next few months.
DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Defence R&D, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, praised the NSTL team, calling the MP-AUVs a major step toward a deployable, intelligent, and networked mine-countermeasure capability. “It offers rapid response with reduced operational risk and logistics burden for naval mine warfare,” he said.
The achievement follows DRDO’s recent advancements supporting the Gaganyaan mission, including the development and testing of specialised food and parachute systems for astronauts.
India’s first human spaceflight mission, scheduled for 2027, will carry crew to low Earth orbit for a three-day mission before returning them safely to Earth.
Speaking to IANS at the DRDO Industry Synergy Meet in Bengaluru, Dr. B.K. Das, Director General (Electronics and Communication), noted that DRDO has expanded beyond defence technologies to actively contribute to India’s space capabilities in collaboration with ISRO.
