The Indian Navy has announced a Request for Information (RFI) for an underwater-launched autonomous underwater vehicle (ULAUV) system, as part of its ongoing efforts to bolster its maritime capabilities.
The ULAUV project aims to acquire cutting-edge technology for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and mine countermeasures (MCM) operations.
The RFI, released on July 1st, details the Navy's specific requirements for the ULAUV system. The vehicle must be capable of:
- Underwater launch: The ULAUV is to be launched from existing submarine platforms, adding a new dimension to underwater operations.
- Surface and subsurface target detection: This capability will significantly enhance the Navy's situational awareness in underwater environments.
- Data relay: The ULAUV should be able to transmit acoustic and visual data of targets to other underwater platforms for real-time analysis, enabling faster decision-making in critical situations.
- Homing features: The ability to home in on distress signals from disabled submarines will improve the Navy's submarine rescue capabilities.
- High performance: The ULAUV must achieve a minimum speed of 5 knots in calm waters and operate for over 24 hours at cruising speeds. It should be propelled by a quiet electric motor and guided by inertial navigation and anti-jamming differential GPS systems.
- Rugged design: The system should adhere to the Indian Telecommunication Engineering Centre's (TEC) standards for ruggedization in underwater environments, ensuring reliability in harsh conditions.
This latest move by the Indian Navy is in line with the growing global trend toward utilizing unmanned underwater vehicles for a variety of maritime missions. UUVs offer a cost-effective and versatile solution for tasks ranging from surveillance and mine detection to anti-submarine warfare.
By developing and acquiring advanced UUVs like the ULAUV, the Indian Navy aims to maintain its strategic advantage in the region and enhance its overall maritime security capabilities.
