In partnership with Pune-based start-up Sagar Defence Engineering, the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has started a revolutionary effort to create India’s first underwater-launched unmanned aerial vehicles (ULUAVs). By giving submarines cutting-edge observation and reconnaissance equipment, this project seeks to greatly improve India’s underwater military capabilities.
A competitive bidding process under DRDO’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) resulted in the selection of Sagar Defence from a pool of 17 competing companies.
The project aims to create ULUAVs with long range and great endurance that can be launched autonomously from moving submarines, giving them a tactical edge in surveillance operations. Submarines will be more operationally effective thanks to these drones, which will allow them to surreptitiously monitor any threats without drawing attention to themselves.
In contrast to the US’s present ULUAVs, which have a range of 7 km and an endurance of 30 minutes, the ULUAVs are intended to outperform current systems, with a planned range of over 20 km and an endurance of over an hour.
Using data collection capabilities to deliver useful intelligence, the technology is mainly designed for maritime and underwater domain awareness. Future development is also possible due to the design, since weapons systems might be added to the drones.
This project represents a major turning point in India’s defense technology development and is consistent with the government’s commitment to supporting domestic innovation and technological growth within the defense sector.
In keeping with India’s increasing strength in defence research and development, the partnership between DRDO and Sagar Defence highlights the faith and confidence in the start-up’s talents.
