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.[1][10] The minister in his speech said that the Government is in favour of exporting the torpedo to friendly nations including Vietnam.[11][12] With some minor modifications the submarine variant of the torpedo is to be test fired shortly.[13]
Design
This torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 KWs silver oxide zinc (AgOZn) batteries.[14] It can achieve speeds in excess of 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph), weighs around 1.5 tonnes 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 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.[2][15] 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]
Development
Varunastra will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited in association with NSTL.[15] In April 2018, Bharat Dynamics Limited obtained a license to manufacture Varunastra from the DRDO.[16] In June 2019, Ministry of Defence awarded a contract worth ₹1,187 crore (equivalent to ₹15 billion or US$180 million in 2023) to Bharat Dynamics Limited to supply Varunastra to the Indian Navy.[17]
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.[19]
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 600 metres (2,000 ft), a maximum speed of 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph). The first image emerged publicly in Twitter on 9 June 2023 which hinted that the torpedo is going sea trials.[20][21][22]
Takshak torpedo
Takshak torpedo is the advanced version of the Varunastra torpedo which employs an electric battery for propulsion. It has a length of 6.4 metres (21 ft) which is shorter from the previous variant, enabling to be launched from submarines. It also features Ring Laser GyroInertial 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.[23][24]
Indian Navy – All future anti-submarine warfare ships will be capable of firing Varunastra.[10][25][26] 73 torpedoes were ordered in 2016.[27] Another batch of 63 torpedoes were ordered in 2018.[28]