BDL Completes Delivery of Final Varunastra Heavy Torpedo for Indian Navy

Defense News ,India :-  Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has achieved a major goal by finishing its Varunastra heavyweight torpedo project for the Indian Navy. Dr. Y Sreenivas Rao, Director General (Naval Systems & Materials), marked the completion by overseeing the final torpedo delivery at BDL's Visakhapatnam unit.

The Varunastra is a potent weapon designed to tackle submarine threats in both shallow and deep waters. It's an electrically-propelled torpedo, crafted by India's Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL).

This torpedo boasts an impressive indigenous content, with over 95% of its components made locally.

Back in June 2019, the Indian Ministry of Defence entrusted BDL with a significant contract valued at ₹1,187 crore (US$170 million) for the large-scale production of Varunastra torpedoes.

This successful delivery showcases the fruitful collaboration between the Indian Navy, NSTL, and BDL, highlighting their dedication to domestically producing crucial defense gear.

Specification of the Varunastra Heavyweight Torpedo :

• Length: 7.78 meters (25.5 feet)
• Diameter: 533.4 millimeters (21 inches)
• Weight: 1605 kilograms (3540 pounds) for exercise version and 1850 kilograms (4079 pounds) for combat version
• Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) and 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) selectable speeds
• Operating depth: 8 to 600 meters (26 to 1,968 feet)
• Propulsion: Electric propulsion system with Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries
• Range: 40 to 50 kilometers (25 to 31 miles)
• Warhead: 250 kilograms (551 pounds) High Explosive (HE)

The Varunastra is a wire-guided, active-passive acoustic homing heavyweight torpedo designed to eliminate submarines in both shallow and deep waters. It features:

• Low drift navigational systems for precise targeting
• Acoustic homing with a wide look angle for tracking quiet targets 
• Advanced acoustic countermeasures (ACCM) to avoid countermeasures deployed by enemy submarines
• Autonomous guidance algorithms for precise targeting  
• Insensitive munition warhead that can withstand shocks  
• GPS-aided recovery system for practice torpedoes 

Key Points:

• Enhanced Capabilities: The Varunastra torpedo significantly enhances the Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

• Technological Achievement: Its high level of indigenous components demonstrates India's growing self-reliance in defense technology.

• Successful Collaboration: The project underscores the effective cooperation between various branches of the Indian defense sector.

The successful completion of the Varunastra heavyweight torpedo project further bolsters India's status as an emerging leader in defense manufacturing and technological advancement.