Anti – Submarine Warfare capability of the Indian Navy has received a major boost today with the conclusion of a contract for Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS) capable of being fired from all frontline warships. Maareech has been designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) labs (NSTL and NPOL) and it is capable of detecting, locating and neutralizing incoming torpedo. Bharat Electronics Limited, a Defence PSU, would undertake the production of this decoy system.
In a release, the Indian Navy said, the prototype of this system installed onboard a nominated naval platform had successfully completed all user evaluation trials and demonstrated the features as per the Naval Staff Qualification Requirements. This induction not only stands testimony to the joint resolve of the Indian Navy and DRDO towards indigenous development of Defence technology, but has also given a major fillip to the Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and the country’s resolve to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) in niche technology.
Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS) is a torpedo detection and countermeasure system used by the Indian Navy. The system offers a complete solution to detect and locate an incoming torpedo and to apply countermeasures to protect naval platform against torpedo attack. It was developed as a joint project of the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi and the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam. It is an anti-torpedo system with towed and expendable decoys.
The system is capable of detecting, confusing, diverting and decoying the incoming torpedoes. The decoy helps in exhausting the energy of the torpedo by running the later through long and ineffective course and prevents them from homing in to the targeted platform with its advanced counter-measure capabilities.Two production grade MAAREECH systems have been developed and user evaluation trials completed on board two Indian Navy ships. The Indian Navy has already placed orders for three torpedo defence systems that would be installed on ships at the Mazagon Dock Limited.
