In a long and commendable tradition of supporting indigenous design and development, the Indian Navy has invited interest from Indian industry — both state owned and private — to meet a requirement for at least 10 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that can be developed and begin production within four years of award of contract. In a refreshing break, the Navy has chosen to exercise the “Make” procedure of India’s Defence Procurement Procedure 2008 (DPP-2008), a special category that can be invoked by the armed forces for “high technology complex systems designed, developed and produced indigenously”.
The Navy wants AUVs that can carry “variable payloads like high definition sonars and underwater cameras for surveillance reconnaissance activities of the sea bed (such as MCM operations, Oceanographic survey and specialised mapping etc).” The Navy also stipulates, in a broad list of requirements, that contending AUV concepts should involve platforms with (a) data recording facilities for subsequent analysis, (b) be capable of providing realistic target training for sonar operators, (c) be capable of being launched from small vessels with a maximum weight of 1.5 tons and (d) be able to operate at depth upto 500 mtrs for a duration of 7-8 hours.
The Navy has asked for an initial expression of interest by July 15, though this date is most likely to be extended. Several IIT incubation projects, which displayed amateur AUVs at the recent DefExpo are likely to show interest, or at least look toward technical tie-ups with larger firms. In early 2008, the DRDO — currently developing an AUV at its Naval Science & Tech Laboratory in Visakhapatnam — inaugurated an AUV Centre in the city. The indigenous programme is headed by a naval officer, Commodore N Banerjee.
Very commendable procedure from IN. They are really walking the tight rope walk between issuing RFPs to global tenders and keeping the indegenous industry alive. They are aware of the fact that all their actions are being scrutinized by some defence analysts/ journalists and will make it to many people.
They are doing the p[rocess fair . I think the Indfian government should make this procedure of first reaching out to the private / public sector foe a new product and then only go for foreign vendors as a standard procedure for acquiring new systems. Again , IN has proved to be a trend setter- =-kudos!!!
That's the Navy, our own Navy. Bravo guys. March forward and hopes this lesson is learned by the other services as well. Start from nothing. Move to equality (with others) and the move ahead and be the best. Indian Navy style.
@Anonymous 9:41 AM
SPOT ON ONLY WHEN THE ARMED FORCES AND THE DRDO WILL BE ON THE SAME PAGE IT WILL DELIEVER RESULT THEY SHOULD SUPPORT EACH OTHER
Again a laudable progressive and valuable step.
Navy does it again! All the best!
Mr Naik, Mr Kotwal & co., here is your next sub marine chance!
– Manne
I wish, IA and IAF will learn something from Navy. But DRDO has to suport this. Navy is supporting local vendors, as they are getting results back. But in case of IA and IAF they are not getting as what they want from DRDO and MOD. For example Kaveri is a dead project.
I hope our IIT guys can make Jet Engines, and I think they can. Why not ? give it try. Make a team of 200 people. 50 scientists (DRDO, GTRE) and 100 IIT students and 50 private sector people ( scientists, advisers)
Any Update on MMRCA ?
First eliminations in MMRCA expected this month
http://www.8ak.in/8ak_india_defence_news/2010/07/first-eliminations-in-mmrca-expected-this-month.html
Great leap forward.
In fact these AUVs should be developed as primary sensors on Indian Navy destroyers and frigates to detect submarines