New Delhi: DRDO viscoelastic isolation mounts are at the center of a new initiative aimed at strengthening the Indian Navy’s acoustic stealth capabilities. According to a tender floated by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a Kochi-based laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the project seeks advanced vibration-isolation mounts for naval platforms. The move is expected to help future Indian warships reduce underwater noise, making them harder for enemy submarines to detect.
DRDO Launches New Tender For Advanced Viscoelastic Isolation Mounts Technology
The Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of NAVEM-A Mk1 viscoelastic isolation mounts. The tender, published in 2026, is valued at less than ₹1 crore and is focused on improving acoustic stealth and survivability of Indian Navy vessels.
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What Are Viscoelastic Isolation Mounts Technology
Viscoelastic isolation mounts are specialized components designed to reduce the transfer of vibrations from heavy machinery to a ship’s hull. These mounts act as shock absorbers that absorb and disperse mechanical energy before it creates detectable underwater noise.
Why Underwater Noise Matters
Modern submarines use passive sonar systems to detect ships by listening to the sounds produced by onboard machinery. Reducing these acoustic signatures makes naval vessels more difficult to locate, track, and target during operations.
Technical Specifications Of The Advanced Viscoelastic Isolation Mounts Technology
The new isolation mounts must support machinery weighing up to 2,000 kilograms. This indicates that they are intended for large shipboard systems such as diesel generators, compressors, cooling plants, and hydraulic power units.
Focus On Low-Frequency Vibration Control
NPOL has specified a natural resonance frequency below 15 Hz. The mounts must begin isolating vibrations at approximately 21 Hz, helping prevent mechanical energy from reaching the hull structure.
Use Of Grade 2 Titanium
The tender requires the use of Grade 2 Titanium (Ti-Gr2). Titanium offers excellent corrosion resistance in seawater environments and provides a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for naval applications.
How Advanced Viscoelastic Isolation Mounts Technology Improves Naval Operations
A quieter warship generates fewer underwater sound signatures. This significantly reduces the chances of detection by hostile submarines equipped with advanced sonar systems.
Increased Equipment Lifespan
Reducing vibration levels lowers wear and tear on critical machinery. This can help extend equipment life and reduce maintenance costs over the vessel’s operational life.
Improved Crew Comfort
Lower vibration and noise levels create a more comfortable environment for sailors during long deployments. Sensitive systems such as radars and electronic warfare equipment can also operate more effectively in a stable environment.
NPOL’s Ongoing Research Efforts
Researchers at NPOL have been working on advanced anti-vibration technologies. Recent studies have focused on low-frequency vibration-control systems using advanced nitrile rubber composites reinforced with carbon fibers to improve damping performance. These efforts demonstrate India’s growing expertise in indigenous naval engineering and vibration-control technologies.
What is the Importance of Advanced Viscoelastic Isolation Mounts Technology for India’s Future Naval Fleet
Future Indian Navy destroyers, frigates, and support vessels are expected to place greater emphasis on acoustic stealth. The new isolation mounts will form an important part of broader “quiet ship” technologies that include quieter propulsion systems, improved gearboxes, and advanced hull designs.
Strengthening Atmanirbhar Bharat
The project aligns with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Successful indigenous development of advanced naval vibration-isolation systems could reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthen India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Strategic Significance For Modern Naval Warfare
Underwater acoustics has become a critical factor in modern naval combat. As sonar technology becomes more sensitive, reducing a vessel’s noise profile is increasingly as important as lowering its radar visibility. Experts believe that investments in acoustic stealth technologies will play a major role in enhancing the combat effectiveness and survivability of future naval platforms.
FAQs
Acoustic stealth helps warships avoid detection by enemy submarines that use passive sonar systems to track underwater noise signatures.
DRDO viscoelastic isolation mounts are vibration-control systems designed to reduce the transfer of machinery vibrations to a ship’s hull, helping lower underwater noise and improve acoustic stealth.
The project is being led by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a Kochi-based laboratory under DRDO.
