Autonomous vessel to sail 1,500 km from Mumbai to Tuticorin

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flags off Sagarmala Parikrama, showcases indigenous defence technologies, and emphasizes self-reliance in Navy.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (October 29, 2024) virtually flagged-off the Sagarmala Parikrama, a 1,500-km-long passage by an autonomous surface vessel, manufactured by Sagar Defence Engineering, from Mumbai to Tuticorin.

The vessel’s journey, unveiled at Swavlamban, the annual event of the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), is an important technology demonstration especially as the Indian Navy looks to induct autonomous surface and underwater vessels in large numbers.

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The Minister formally unveiled the third edition of Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI 3.0) challenge and 13th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC 13) aimed to advance indigenous defence technologies and operational efficiencies.

ADITI 3.0 features a challenge from the Navy to design a high-power microwave weapon system. DISC 13 presents seven challenges – three from the Army and two each from Navy and Air Force – in the domains of artificial intelligence, military communication and autonomous bots among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi reiterated that the Navy has resolved to become a “fully aatmanirbhar force” by 2047. “I am indeed delighted to share that through constant conversation and collaborative efforts of Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and NIIO, 173 challenges presented to industry by the Navy, including all the 75 challenges launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi… have been converted into pragmatic solutions and positive outcomes,” he said.

This, the Navy Chief said, has resulted in fructification of more than 2,000 proposals, with an outlay of over ₹2,000 crore and conclusion of 171 contracts for an excess of ₹700 crore towards development of “swadeshi solutions” many of them being “global firsts, game changers and technologically futuristic”.