Indian Navy undertakes first combat firing of Varunastra torpedo

Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News

The Indian Navy and the country's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) undertook the first ‘combat' test-firing of the Varunastra heavyweight torpedo on 5 June.

An overview of the news

• It will enhance the anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the indigenous Navy and give it a formidable force.

• The torpedo was fired from a submarine and successfully hit the target at a distance of 40 km.

• The test was conducted in the Arabian Sea in the presence of senior officials from the Indian Navy and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

About Varunastra torpedo

• It has been designed and developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory at Visakhapatnam under the Defense Research and Development Organisation.

• Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is responsible for the production of the Varunastra missile system.

• This would become the mainstay of anti-submarine torpedoes for all Navy warships.

• It will replace the old torpedoes on all naval ships that can fire heavy-weight torpedoes.

Features of the Varunastra

• It is seven to eight meters long, weighs 1,500 kg and has a diameter of 533 mm.

• When fired it can travel at 40 knots, or 74 kmph. 

• The operational range is 40 km and it can carry a warhead weighing 250 kg.

• Varunastra was inducted by Indian Navy in 2016

• It can be fired from all Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships capable of firing heavy-weight torpedoes in an intense countermeasures environment.

Benefits of the Varunastra Torpedo

• It is a powerful and sophisticated weapon that will significantly enhance the Navy’s ability to detect, track, and engage enemy submarines.

• It is the first indigenously developed heavyweight torpedo that is capable of meeting the Navy’s operational requirements. 

• This will reduce the Navy’s dependence on foreign weapons systems.

• It is a cost-effective weapon that will save the Navy money in the long run.