Varunastra:
The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth Rs 4,106 crore for the acquisition of a dedicated communication satellite capability, GSAT-7C for the Indian Air Force, and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy.
- Varunastra is a ship launched, heavy weight, electrically-propelled anti-submarine torpedo.
- It is capable of targeting quiet submarines, both in deep and shallow waters in an intense countermeasures environment.
- It was designed and developed by Vizag-based Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- It can be fired from all Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships capable of firing heavy weight torpedoes.
- It is capable of being launched from surface ships and submarines.
- It can achieve speeds in excess of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and has a range of 40 km.
- It can carry a 250 kg high-explosive warhead and has a maximum operating depth of 600 metres (2,000 ft). It has long range with multi maneuvering capabilities.
- The torpedo’s guidance system uses active-passive acoustic homing, wire guidance, and GPS/NavIC satellite guidance.
- It has conformal array transducers that allow it to look at wider angles than most common torpedoes.
- It also has an advanced autonomous guidance algorithm with low drift navigational aids, an insensitive warhead that can operate in various combat scenarios, and a GPS-based locating aid.
