Varunastra (torpedo) explained

Varunastra
Type:Heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo
Service:29 June 2016[1]
Designer:Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (DRDO)
Number:Unknown
Diameter:533.4mm
Unit Cost: - [2]
Origin:India
Is Ranged:yes
Is Explosive:yes
Is Missile:yes
Manufacturer:Bharat Dynamics Limited
Weight:1500kg (3,300lb)
Filling:High explosive
Filling Weight:250kg (550lb)[3]
Engine:Electric
Engine Power:Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries
Vehicle Range:40km (30miles)[4] to 50km (30miles)[5]
Speed: to [6]
Guidance:Wire-guided, active-passive acoustic homing. Augmented by GPS/NavIC satellite guidance.[7]
Depth:600m (2,000feet)
Launch Platform:
  • Ship
  • Submarine

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.[8]

The ship launched variant of Varunastra torpedo was formally inducted in the Indian navy by defence minister Manohar Parrikar and security designed by security adviser satyam kumar on 26 June 2016.[9] The minister in his speech said that the Government is in favour of exporting the torpedo to friendly nations including Vietnam.[10] With some minor modifications the submarine variant of the torpedo is to be test fired shortly.[11]

Design

This torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250kW Silver Oxide-Zinc (AgOZn) batteries.[12] It can achieve speeds in excess of 40kn, weighs around 1.5 tonnes and can carry 250kg (550lb) 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.[13] [14] 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.

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.[15]

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.

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

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.[16] [17]

In April 2018, Bharat Dynamics Limited obtained a license to manufacture Varunastra from the DRDO.[18] In June 2019, Ministry of Defence awarded a contract worth to Bharat Dynamics Limited to supply Varunastra to the Indian Navy.[19]

On 6 June 2023, Indian Navy successfully conducted combat trial of Varunastra. The torpedo was fired from a submarine and successfully hit an underwater target.[20]

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. [21]

Further development

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 600m (2,000feet), a maximum speed of . The first image emerged publicly in Twitter on 9 June 2023 which hinted that the torpedo is going sea trials.[22] [23] [24]

Takshak torpedo

Takshak torpedo is the advanced version of the Varunastra torpedo which employs an electric battery for propulsion. It has a length of 6.4m (21feet) 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 haa 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.[25] [26]

Operators

Possible operators

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weapon of Water: India gets its first indigenous torpedo, Varunastra . 30 June 2016. NewsX. 29 June 2016.
  2. Web site: Varunastra joins the Navy; 9 things you must know . 30 June 2016 . 1 July 2016 . Rediff News .
  3. Web site: Underwater might . T. S. Subramanian . Frontline . 23 March 2014 . 30 June 2016.
  4. Web site: Indian Navy commissions fourth and final Kamorta-class corvette. 2021-07-07. Janes.com. 22 October 2020 . en.
  5. Web site: Siddiqui . Huma . 2023-06-07 . Varunastra Torpedo to enhance Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities, Know all about its powerful features here . 2023-12-29 . Financialexpress . en.
  6. Web site: Katoch . P.C . 15 June 2023 . Varunastra Torpedo . 2023-12-24 . www.spsnavalforces.com.
  7. Web site: Varunastra joins the Navy; 9 things you must know . Rediff . 8 October 2020.
  8. Web site: Siddiqui . Huma . 2023-06-07 . Varunastra Torpedo to enhance Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities, Know all about its powerful features here . 2023-12-29 . Financialexpress . en.
  9. Web site: Anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra inducted in Navy. The Indian Express. 29 June 2016. 30 June 2016.
  10. Web site: India joins elite group of eight with anti-submarine Varunastra in arsenal . https://web.archive.org/web/20160701140833/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/India-joins-elite-group-of-eight-with-anti-submarine-Varunastra-in-arsenal/2016/06/30/article3506714.ece . dead . 1 July 2016 . The New Indian Express . 30 June 2016.
  11. Web site: Indian Navy inducts indigenous heavyweight torpedo Varunastra. India Today. IANS. 29 June 2016. 30 June 2016.
  12. Web site: Indian Navy's most powerful ships rely on DRDO technology . indiastrategic.in . 30 June 2016 . 16 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160716205939/http://indiastrategic.in/topstories3130_Indian_navy_ships_rely_on_DRDO_technology.htm . dead .
  13. Web site: Varunastra: 5 things to know about the lethal DRDO torpedo for Indian Navy . 30 June 2016 . 6 July 2016 . The Financial Express . Smriti . Jain.
  14. Web site: 2023-06-07 . Varunastra Torpedo to enhance Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, Know all about its powerful features here . 2024-10-15 . Financialexpress . en.
  15. News: 2014-02-28 . Varunastra to undergo evaluation trials soon . 2024-10-15 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  16. News: Purohit . Jugal R . 15 February 2017 . India to fire self-made torpedo VARUNASTRA from our submarines, says DRDO . India Today . en.
  17. Web site: India To Test Fire Home-Made Torpedo From Russian EKM Class Submarine . 20 February 2017 . www.defenseworld.net.
  18. News: BDL to make 'Varunastra'. The Hindu. 12 April 2018. en-IN.
  19. News: Rao . Sushil . India set to join heavyweight torpedo club . The Times of India . 14 June 2019 . en.
  20. Web site: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - YEAR END REVIEW 2023 . 2023-12-27 . pib.gov.in.
  21. Web site: Apollo Micro Systems wins order from Bharat Dynamics - Check details,Companies News, Business News Zee Business . 2024-10-15 . www.zeebiz.com.
  22. Web site: 2023-06-29 . Indian Navy test fires Shakti thermal torpedo . 2024-08-30 . Indian Defense Analysis . en-GB.
  23. Web site: Sri . Aman . 2023-07-22 . India getting a new secret torpedo? . 2024-08-30 . brahmastraspace . en.
  24. 1667036821426151424 . PRO_Vizag . Alarm Torpedo – Enemy Beware!! . 2023-06-09 . 2024-08-30.
  25. Web site: SUBRAMANIAN . T. S. . Underwater might . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928105811/https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30164828.ece . 2021-09-28 . 2020-09-20 . Frontline . en.
  26. Web site: 2024-05-14 . India's Next-Gen Torpedo, Takshak, Set for Sea Trials: A Deep Dive into BDL's Latest Innovation . 2024-08-30 . Defence.in . en-US.
  27. Web site: Hon'ble RM hands over Varunastra to Indian Navy. Indian Navy. 30 June 2016.
  28. Web site: Varunastra missile handed over to Indian navy . Ziezulewicz . Geoff . UPI . 30 June 2016.
  29. News: Bedi. Rahul. Indian Navy inducts indigenous Varunastra heavyweight torpedo. IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 4 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030244/http://www.janes.com/article/61975/indian-navy-inducts-indigenous-varunastra-heavyweight-torpedo. 2 February 2017.
  30. Web site: Indian Navy to soon get first batch of indigenously-built torpedo Varunastra. 2020-01-09. DNA India. en. 2020-01-15.
  31. News: Purohit . Jugal R . 15 February 2017 . India to fire self-made torpedo VARUNASTRA from our submarines, says DRDO . India Today . en.
  32. News: Eye on China, Delhi offers heavy torpedoes to Vietnam . 3 July 2016. The Times of India . 3 July 2016.

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