Lok Sabha Question No. 4994 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-16
Subject: Indigenously Developed SONARS
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4994

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2016

## INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED SONARS

4994.  SHRI  C. MAHENDRAN:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formally  inducted  four  types  of  indigenously developed SONARS that will boost its underwater surveillance capability recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether this will give fillip to India's quest for self-reliance in this critical area of technology; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

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(a) to (d): Yes, Madam.  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed many systems for Indian Navy. Some of the major systems  are  Heavy  Weight  Torpedo  (Varunastra),  Advanced  Torpedo Defence  System  (Mareech),  Multi  Influence  Ground  Mines,  etc.  Recently, on  18 th November  2016, Kochi   based   Naval   Physical   Oceanographic Laboratory

……2/-

:  2  :

(NPOL)  of  DRDO, has  handed over  the following  four  naval systems to Indian Navy:-

- Abhay  (Compact  Hull-Mounted  Sonar  for  Small  Ships  &  Shallow Water Crafts):  Induction of Abhay (by replacing the vintage Russian sonar)  enables  indigenous  sonar  system  to  be  installed  on  small ships, thereby enhancing the ASW surveillance capability of the fleet to smaller vessel, like Shallows Water Crafts, Light Frigates & Patrol Vessels, which was hitherto limited to frigates and destroyers.
- HUMSA-UG  (Upgrade  for  the  Hull-Mounted  Sonar  Array  (HUMSA) Series of Sonar Systems for Ships):  It enables smooth upgrade of the capabilities of the indigenously-developed legacy Sonar System HUMSA, by drastically minimizing the existing hardware and addressing  technology  obsolescence  issues,  which  is  currently operational on-board on 18 ships.
- NACS (Near-field Acoustic Characterization System (NACS) for Ship Sonars):    It  provides  a  simple and operationally efficient  means  to determine the frequency-dependent 3-D transmission and reception characteristics  of  the  hull-mounted  sonar  aiding  in  the  optimum performance and maintenance of the sonar.
- AIDSS  (Advanced  Indigenous  Distress  Sonar  System  (AIDSS)  for Submarines):  It is used to signal that a submarine is in distress and thereby  enable  quick  rescue  and  salvage.    It  is  a  life-saving  alarm system designed to transmit sonar signals of pre-designated frequency  and  pulse  shape  in  an  emergency  situation,  so  as  to attract the attention of Rescue Vessel in the vicinity.

The extent to which capability of the Indian Navy will get a boost with the induction of these systems are:

Three  systems  of  Abhay  are  slated  for  installation  on  the  Abhay Class of Ships. 7 systems of HUMSA-UG are proposed for installation on the  Teg  Class  G-  Class  and  R-Class  ships.  4  systems  of  NACS  are proposed for the Kolkata Class of Ships. 9 systems of AIDSS are planned for  the  Sindhu  Class  Submarines  (EKM  Submarines).  Induction  of  these Systems  will  increase  the  underwater  surveillance  capability  of  Indian Naval ships.  All these Systems are to be productionised in India.

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