Naval Science and Technological Laboratory

{{Infobox Laboratory

|name = Naval Science & Technological Laboratory

|motto = "Strength's Origin is in Science"

|logo =

|image =

|established = 20 August 1969

|city = Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

|research_field = Underwater Weapons - Torpedoes

|director = Dr Abraham Varughese

|staff =

|budget =

|operating_agency = DRDO

|affiliations =

|address = Vigyan Nagar,
Visakhapatnam- 530 027

|campus =

|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120330212508/http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/NSTL/English/index.jsp?pg=homebody.jsp&labhits=3043]

|footnotes =

}}

The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), located in Visakhapatnam. Its main function is the research and development of underwater weapons and associated systems. NSTL is organized under DRDO's Directorate of Naval R&D. The present director of NSTL is Dr. Abraham Varughese and Director General(DG) is Dr Y. Sreenivas Rao, Distinguished Scientist .{{cite web | url=https://www.drdo.gov.in/labs-establishment/director/naval-science-technological-laboratory-nstl | title=Director | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India }}

History

NSTL was established on 20 August 1969 to undertake research and development of major naval systems and underwater weapons for the Indian Navy to make it self-reliant.{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20010306222156/http://www.drdo.org/labs/nr&d/nstl/history.shtml NSTL History]}}

Areas of work

NSTL is involved in the design, development, testing, evaluation and productionization of underwater weapons and their associated weapon control systems. These include torpedoes, mines, decoys, targets, simulators, Fire Control Systems and weapon launchers.

The lab is also involved in investigating hydrodynamic parameters and structural design of surface and submerged naval platforms and in evolving design criteria through model studies and simulation. NSTL is also involved in developing Warship Technologies, Stealth Technology for ships and Hydro-dynamic research services.

NSTL also develops specialized materials for Marine Applications, including materials for mitigation of Radar, IR, Magnetic, Acoustic and ELFE Signatures leading to stealthier platforms.

= Facilities =

NSTL is equipped with laboratories and Hydrodynamic research facilities including a High Speed Towing Tank (HSTT), a Cavitation Tunnel and a Wind Tunnel. They also have Acoustic, Shock, Noise and Vibration Test Facilities that are used to measure, study and analyze the mitigation of underwater noise generated by ships and submarines. {{cite web |title=Facilities of NSTL |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330213159/http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/NSTL/English/index.jsp?pg=facility.jsp |website=DRDO}}

Projects and Products

High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HEAUV)

DRDO's NSTL in partnership with the Cochin Shipyard is developing the HEAUV autonomous underwater vehicle. The HEAUV, first reported in 2024, is undergoing multiple trials. The vehicle has a weight of {{Convert|6|short ton|kg|abbr=on}}, length of around {{Convert|10|m||abbr=on}} and diameter of {{Convert|1|m||abbr=on}}. As for the performance, it has a maximum depth of {{Convert|300|m||abbr=on}}, endurance of 15 days at an economical speed of {{Convert|3|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} and a maximum speed of {{Convert|8|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}. It can be mounted with swappable mission-specific payloads. The equipment include:–{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-12 |title=High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HEAUV) |url=https://alphadefense.in/index.php/2024/03/12/high-endurance-autonomous-underwater-vehicle-heauv/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=alphadefense.in |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Adithya Krishna |date=2025-04-20 |title=India's High Endurance AUV Program Undergoes Developmental Trials |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/04/indias-high-endurance-auv-program-undergoes-developmental-trials/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}

X band 360° surveillance radar for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, developed by LRDE.
{{Convert|45|bar||abbr=on}}-rated mast mounted radome to house collision avoidance radar.
Communication systems (including acoustic, UHF, C band, SATCOM).
Front and flank array sonars as primary underwater sensors, side-scan sonars for mine countermeasure (MCM) operations developed by NPOL.
Array of batteries for propulsion system which includes electric motors connected to composite propellers.
Capsule-based hydrogen fuel cell power plant (under development by NMRL.

In the first week of March 2024, the maiden surface trials of the HEAUV was conducted by DRDO and CSL at the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) Jetty in Kochi. All the system parameters were met during the trials.{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2024-04-09 |title=DRDO's AUV Conducts Successful Surface Run |url=https://raksha-anirveda.com/drdos-auv-conducts-successful-surface-run/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=raksha-anirveda.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite tweet |number=1765715469946826808 |user=DRDO_India |title=Maiden Surface run of High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HEAUV) meeting all the mission parameters were carried out successfully at Cochin Shipyard, International Ship Repair Facility(ISRF) Jetty, Kochi. |date=2024-03-07 |access-date=2025-04-22}}{{Cite tweet |number=1765917170427670683 |user=cslcochin |title=Proud moment for India, DRDO, and Cochin Shipyard Limited! 🇮🇳 The nation's first fully indigenous High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle integrated at CSL has completed its maiden trials at CSL's ISRF facility... |date=2024-03-07 |access-date=2025-04-22}}

In late March 2025, DRDO conducted Lake Trials of the HEAUV during which vehicle dynamics, in both submerged and surfaced conditions, was tested successfully along with its Sonar and Communications suite.{{Cite tweet |number=1906400247452176655 |user=DRDO_India |title=High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle currently under development by NSTL has been successfully tested in lake. During the trials vehicle dynamics was proven in both surface and submerged condition through multiple runs with perfect performance of Sonars and Communication |date=2025-03-30 |access-date=2025-04-22}}

In 2018, the Ministry of Defence had released a Request for Information (RFI) for the acquisition of eight HEAUVs for Indian Navy's ASW, ISR and MCM operations as well as bathymetric and oceanographic data gathering. Further, an Expression of Interest (EoI) was released to invite Indian companies to develop an HEAUV for just ASW operations. As of now, GRSE is also developing HEAUV-ASW expected to completed by 2027 along with its Neerakshi AUV. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders also released an EoI for HEAUV-ASW development in 2023.

= Multi-Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) =

Multi-Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) is a tactical naval mine developed for the Indian Navy by NSTL in collaboration with HEMRL and TBRL as well as Bharat Dynamics Limited and Apollo Microsystems Limited as the production agency. The system is designed to counter stealth surface ships and submarines by detecting their various influences such as acoustic, magnetic and pressure signatures. On 5 May 2025, DRDO successfully undertook the combat firing (with reduced explosive) of the mine.{{Cite news |date=2025-05-05 |title=DRDO & Indian Navy conduct combat firing (with reduced explosive) of indigenous Multi-Influence Ground Mine |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2127155 |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=Press Information Bureau}}{{Cite news |date=2025-05-05 |title=DRDO, Navy conduct successful trial of MIGM |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/drdo-navy-conduct-successful-trial-of-migm/articleshow/120904004.cms |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}{{Cite web |title=Multi - Influential Ground Mines (MIGM) {{!}} Official Website of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India |url=https://bdl-india.in/migm |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=bdl-india.in}}