Navy gets anti-submarine torpedo after Tejas feat

“Varunastra” in Indian mythology is the main weapon of the “Rain God Varuna” that can kick up storms of devastation. On Wednesday, when defence minister Manoh-ar Parrikar formally handed over the “Varun-astra” to the Indian Navy, it meant much more than the heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo that can target and attack prowling submarines deep under the sea.

Besides adding another feather to the country’s “Make in India” cap, with 95 per cent indigenous content, the ship-launched “Varunastra” also underlined indigenous capability in the face of trying circumstances like unwillingness of developed countries to part with technology. The indigenous element assumes double significance for the country’s capability because of the fact that on Friday, two brand new Tejas combat aircraft will be handed over to the Indian Air Force.

Like the Tejas fighter aircraft, the development of the Varunashtra too has been a chequered one.

While work started on it at least 10 years ago, in November 2015, during testing, one of the development torpedos bolted into the sea bed about 35 km off the Visakhpatnam coast. It was after more than a month on December 23 that the torpedo was retrieved from the sea bed. It has been a long way since then. To be launched from ships as of now, Varunastra will soon be testfired from submarines too. The Navy has already ordered 73 of such torpedoes.

The government is looking to ramp up the production numbers too with an eye on exports. Speaking of his intent, Parrikar said: “I will also tell them (DRDO) their job is not over... They should ensure the product is of best international standards because not just Navy (will use them), we can export them. I have got a verbal clearance from Navy chief too.”

Weighing 1,500 kg, the 8 metre-long high-speed Varunastra has a 250 kg warhead besides being equipped with state-of-the-art technology like long endurance propulsion, software driven intelligence, and advanced acoustic homing-in capacity that first detects and then goes in for the kill with its guidance system charting out the optimum path towards the target.

It will be deployed on destroyers (Kolkata-class, Delhi-class and Rajput-class), frigates (Talwar-class) and corvettes (Kamorta-class ASW).