New Delhi: DRDO Transfers Submarine Fired Decoy Technology To BDL in a major step towards strengthening India’s indigenous naval defence capabilities. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), has signed a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the production of the Submarine Fired Decoy (SFD). The move is expected to improve the Indian Navy’s underwater defence systems while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
What Is The Submarine Fired Decoy Technology
The Submarine Fired Decoy (SFD) is a defensive system designed to protect submarines from incoming torpedoes.
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When deployed, the decoy creates false targets and signals that can confuse hostile torpedoes, helping submarines avoid direct attacks. This significantly increases the survivability of submarines during combat operations in contested waters.
DRDO And NSTL Developed The Technology
The technology was developed by DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a leading Indian defence research facility specializing in underwater weapons and naval systems.
NSTL has played a key role in developing torpedoes, decoys, underwater countermeasures, and other advanced naval technologies for the Indian Navy. The transfer of this technology to BDL marks the transition from laboratory development to large-scale manufacturing.
DRDO Submarine Fired Decoy Technology: Why Bharat Dynamics Limited Was Chosen
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), headquartered in Hyderabad, is one of India’s leading defence public sector companies.
The company has a long history of manufacturing advanced weapon systems and has worked closely with DRDO on several defence projects, including missiles and underwater weapons. With the SFD technology transfer, BDL will now produce the decoy system on a larger scale for operational deployment.
DRDO Submarine Fired Decoy Technology: How The Indian Navy Will Benefit
The agreement will ensure that the Indian Navy receives domestically manufactured submarine countermeasure systems. Local production will reduce reliance on imports and improve supply-chain security for critical naval equipment.
The SFD is expected to provide submarines with a reliable shield against torpedo attacks, improving mission success and crew safety.
Better Operational Readiness
Indigenous manufacturing allows faster maintenance, upgrades, and availability of defence equipment. This can help the Navy maintain high operational readiness in the Indian Ocean Region and other strategic maritime areas.
Importance For Aatmanirbhar Bharat
The technology transfer aligns with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The objective is to build critical defence technologies within the country and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers for strategic military systems.
The project is also expected to create opportunities for Indian industries, MSMEs, and defence manufacturing partners involved in the supply chain.
Growing India’s Underwater Warfare Ecosystem
The SFD agreement is part of a broader effort to strengthen India’s underwater warfare capabilities. India has already developed indigenous torpedoes, underwater countermeasure systems, and advanced naval technologies through collaborations between DRDO, NSTL, and industry partners.
The latest transfer further strengthens India’s defence-industrial ecosystem and enhances long-term maritime security.
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FAQs
The technology was developed by DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a premier defence research laboratory focused on underwater weapons and naval systems.
The Submarine Fired Decoy is an underwater defence system that helps submarines evade incoming torpedoes by creating false targets and misleading hostile weapons.
The transfer enables large-scale indigenous production of the Submarine Fired Decoy, reduces dependence on imports, and strengthens the Indian Navy’s underwater defence capabilities.
