Beneath the sea’s quiet surface, a new chapter in India’s defense tech is taking shape. The Defence Research and Development Organisation has unveiled lightweight autonomous underwater vehicles that can be carried by soldiers and deployed for reconnaissance, mine detection, and inspection missions. These autonomous underwater vehicles are equipped with side-scan sonar units and cameras to identify suspicious or mine-like objects in real time, reshaping small-team undersea operations.

Designed and produced by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, the man-portable AUVs rely on onboard deep-learning algorithms to automatically recognise and categorise underwater targets. This capability reduces the need for constant human monitoring and can shorten mission timelines, a critical advantage in underwater reconnaissance and mine-countermeasure tasks. The defence ministry described the system as a new class of lightweight, portable assets that can be carried by personnel into littoral zones and shallow seas.

According to Hindustan Times, via PTI, the NSTL-developed AUVs use side-scan sonar and compact cameras to scan the seabed and identify potential threats. The man-portable design is meant to augment onboard autonomy with rapid deployment, enabling sailors to push farther from shore while maintaining situational awareness. In practice, operators can launch a swarm of these AUVs in a coordinated pattern, with each unit sharing sonar data and video streams to a central console for real-time assessment.

Beyond the hardware, DRDO emphasizes software intelligence. The AUVs run advanced deep-learning models onboard to automatically recognise and classify underwater targets such as mines, debris, or other objects of interest. This onboard processing is crucial in cluttered underwater environments where radio communication is unreliable and latency can cost precious seconds. The result is a more efficient mission lifecycle: shorter search times, fewer risky manned dives, and faster decision cycles for naval teams.

While the AUVs themselves mark a tangible advance, the broader context matters. DRDO has, in other news cycles, discussed integrating sober lessons from advanced weapon systems to improve sensors and control algorithms across programs. For instance, there has been public debate about cross-learning from high-end missile technologies to other DRDO platforms. Hindustan Times notes that such discussions are part of a wider effort to accelerate capability buildup in India’s defense tech ecosystem. However, HT also cautions that some of these cross-cutting initiatives require careful verification and independent corroboration before they become policy, procurement, or fielded capability. For readers outside defense circles, the takeaway is clear: the speed of technical evolution is accelerating, and governance checks remain essential to translate prototypes into reliable, combat-ready systems.

What these AUVs mean for maritime operations

In plain terms, autonomous underwater vehicles like these expand what small teams can do at sea. They extend reach without risking crew, and they provide persistent sensing in places where divers cannot operate. In environments with poor visibility and strong currents, these AUVs can stay on task longer than human divers and feed continuous data to operators onshore or on board nearby ships. For defense planners, the message is unmistakable: autonomy paired with robust sensing is redefining undersea reconnaissance as a more modular, safer, and faster process.

Key capabilities and deployment model

• Man-portable form factor for rapid field deployment
• Side-scan sonar for seabed mapping and contact detection
• High-resolution sub-surface cameras for visual verification
• Onboard deep-learning inference to classify targets in real time
• Low-latency integration with human-operator control centers

Design and production context

The NSTL facility in Visakhapatnam designed and produced these AUVs, signaling a growing capability within India’s domestic defense ecosystem. By internalising the end-to-end pipeline—from sensor payloads to autonomous control software—DRDO aims to streamline procurement cycles and shorten integration timelines with naval platforms.

Broader context: DRDO’s related tech threads

In parallel DRDO developments, there have been discussions about leveraging advanced capabilities observed in other systems, such as maneuverability, sensing, and data fusion. Hindustan Times notes a separate discourse around incorporating insights from other DRDO programs, including air and surface platforms. The article cautions that not all cross-webs of knowledge will translate directly into new hardware, and independent verification remains essential. For professionals following India’s tech policy, this signals a broader push toward modular, interoperable systems that can be upgraded as missions evolve.

For readers staying on top of defense procurement, the takeaway is this: autonomous underwater vehicles are becoming a core instrument in naval situational awareness, and the associated software stack is just as important as the hardware. The combination of portable hardware, onboard AI, and real-time sensing creates a new operational paradigm for littoral security and underwater logistics alike.

Conclusion

India is advancing its undersea autonomy with practical, deployable AUVs that pair compact hardware with intelligent sensing. The DRDO effort illustrates how lightweight, man-portable systems can augment a navy’s reach without demanding larger, more complex platforms. As underwater missions grow more complex, the ability to deploy autonomous tools quickly and interpret their data reliably will be a decisive advantage. This development, anchored by NSTL’s work in Visakhapatnam and reinforced by ongoing policy and technology discussions, signals a trend toward modular, AI-enabled maritime systems. For defense planners and industry watchers, the headline is clear: autonomous underwater vehicles are becoming essential gear for modern naval operations.