Varunastra (torpedo)

Varunastra
Type Heavy torpedo
Place of origin India
Service history
In service 29 June 2016[1]
Used by Indian Navy
Production history
Designer Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, DRDO
Manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited
Unit cost ₹10 crore (US$1.5 million) - ₹12 crore (US$1.8 million)[2]
Number built unknown (73 planned)[3]
Specifications
Weight 1,500 kg (3,300 lb)[4]
Length 7 to 8 metres (23 to 26 ft)
Diameter 533 mm (21.0 in)
Warhead high explosive
Warhead weight 250 kg (550 lb)[5]
Engine Electric
Operational
range
 40 km (25 mi)[5]
Maximum depth 400 metres (1,300 ft)[5]
Speed 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)[5]
Guidance
system
 wire-guided, active-passive acoustic homing
Launch
platform
 ships[1]

The Varunastra is an Indian advanced heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo, developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory of the DRDO for the Indian Navy.

The ship launched variant of Varunastra torpedo was formally inducted in the Indian navy by honorable defence minister Manohar Parrikar on 26 June 2016.[1][6] The minister in his speech said that the government is in favor of exporting the torpedo to friendly nations including Vietnam.[7][8] With some minor modifications the submarine variant of the torpedo is to be test fired shortly.[9][10] The Indian Navy plans to produce 73 of these torpedoes for its use.[11]

Design

This torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 KWs Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries.[12] It can achieve speeds in excess of 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph), weighs around 1.25 tons and can carry 250 kg (550 lb) 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 is also has advanced autonomous guidance algorithms with low drift navigational aids, insensitive warhead which can operate in various combat scenarios. It is the only torpedoes in the world to have a GPS-based locating aid.[2][13]

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.[2]

Varunastra will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited in association with NSTL.[13]

Operators

Export

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Weapon of Water: India gets its first indigenous torpedo, Varunastra". NewsX. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Varunastra joins the Navy 9 things you must know". news. Rediff News. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "Varunastra missile handed over to Indian navy". Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  4. ↑ "Varunastra to undergo evaluation trials soon". The Hindu. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "The DRDO's triad of laboratories supply the Indian Navy with high-potential weapons systems.". frontline.in. 23 March 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra inducted in Navy". 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  7. ↑ "India joins elite group of eight with anti-submarine Varunastra in arsenal". Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  8. 1 2 "Eye on China, Delhi offers heavy torpedoes to Vietnam". The Times of India. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  9. ↑ "Indian Navy inducts indigenous heavyweight torpedo Varunastra". Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  10. ↑ "Indian Navy inducts indigenous heavyweight torpedo 'Varunastra' - The Economic Times". Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  11. 1 2 "Varunastra missile handed over to Indian navy". Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  12. ↑ "Indian Navy's most powerful ships rely on DRDO technology". indiastrategic.in. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  13. 1 2 Smriti Jain (30 June 2016). "V5 things to know about the lethal DRDO torpedo for Indian Navy". news. The Financial Express. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "Hon'ble RM hands over Varunastra to Indian Navy | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 2016-06-30.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.