The Hindu Business Line : Naval Science and Tech Lab hands over mine to Navy

Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) here on Thursday handed over the advanced exercise mine (AEM) to the Navy. Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), handed over the documents and papers relating to the mine to Vice-Admiral R.P. Suthan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, at a function in the laboratory.

Describing it as a momentous occasion, Dr V. Bhujanga Rao, Director of the NSTL, said the lab during the 38 years of its existence had its share of successes and failures, but the Navy had stood by it throughout the period. Earlier, the NSTL had provided many systems to the Navy such as fire control systems in the helicopters and the lab would strive hard to provide the requisite systems for the Navy in future.

Cost advantage

Dr S.M. Bhave, Additional Director, in charge of the project, said it had been completed ahead of time at a cost of Rs 7.85 crore. Sixteen companies were involved in the manufacture of the advanced exercise mine, which could be launched from ships, torpedo tubes of submarines and mine saddle of submarines.

He explained the technical features of the mine and said it would cost only Rs 40 lakh, when manufactured indigenously, against the import cost of Rs 2 crore or so.

Dr Sivathanu Pillai, chief controller (R&D) of the DRDO, lauded the achievement of NSTL in handing over the mine to the Navy without any time or cost overruns.

He said the NSTL was currently working on two major projects – the advanced torpedo system called Vaarunasthra and a thermal-engine propelled torpedo. They would be ready in a year’s time.

He said, “Our ultimate objective is to achieve self-reliance in underwater systems and weapons. In this endeavour, we will take the industry – both in the public sector and the private sector – as our partner and forge ahead with the co-operation of the Navy.” He said 65 industries in Andhra Pradesh, several of them based in Vizag, were working with the NSTL.

Mr P.V. Rao, Director of Allen Reinforced Plastics (P) Ltd, said the company had supplied several components and the shell for the mine. “The NSTL has provided the software and we the hardware,” he said.

Vice-Admiral R.P. Suthan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, who received the documents relating to the mine, said the induction of the system would be of great help in training the naval personnel. He congratulated the NSTL on the occasion.

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