Current Affairs - Defence - Discussion

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, has successfully created next-generation Man-Portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MP-AUVs). These systems are designed to significantly enhance underwater mine countermeasure capabilities. Equipped with side scan sonar, underwater cameras, deep learning-based target recognition, and acoustic communication, the AUVs enable accurate detection and classification of mine-like objects while coordinating effectively with multiple units. Field trials validated their ability to autonomously execute complex missions with minimal human involvement. This development strengthens India’s underwater defence preparedness and supports the nation’s broader goal of indigenising critical military technologies.