Indigenously developed torpedo successfully engages underwater target

New Delhi: In an another landmark achievement for the Indian Navy, an indigenously developed Heavy Weight Torpedo successfully engaged an underwater target on June 6, 2023.

In a tweet, Indian Navy said, "Successful engagement of an Underwater Target by an indigenously developed Heavy Weight Torpedo is a significant milestone in #IndianNavy's & @DRDO_India's quest for accurate delivery of ordnance on target in the underwater domain."

It may be recalled that the DRDO has developed Varunastra, which is ship launched, heavy weight, electrically-propelled anti-submarine torpedo. It is capable of targeting quiet submarines, both in deep and shallow waters in an intense countermeasures environment.

It has been developed by the Naval Science and Technology Laboratory the naval arm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, and the Bharat Dynamics Limited -BDL (Hyderabad).

It weighs 1500 kg and is 7-8 metres long, with an operational range of 40 km. Its maximum depth is 400 metres, whereas it can attain the maximum speed of 74km per hour.

Varunastra is powered by Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries, and can carry a warhead weighing 250 kg.

Varunastra can be fired from all ASW ships capable of firing heavy weight torpedoes. It was inducted by Indian Navy in 2016. It unique features also include the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for target homing in case the torpedo is aimed against a submarine using torpedo decoys.

According to DRDO, Varunastra is the first torpedo in the world to use GPS-based targeting. The torpedo can be launched both from Ship and Submarine.

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