Torpedo Advanced Light Shyena#Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo (ALWT)

Shyena is a processor based torpedo which incorporates solid-state electronics, digital technology and has been equipped with an integrated active/passive sensor package for homing. It is designed to be capable of being launched from both a helicopter or from a triple-tube launcher on surface vessels. Its key design feature are maneuverability and ability to transition from warm to cold medium to ensure a hunt and kill. The development period of the torpedo was quite long, starting in the 1990s, and concluding with its induction into the Indian Navy on 3 March 2012. On that date, the Defence Minister A.K. Antony handed over the first consignment of TAL to the Navy in Hyderabad.

Development of this missile was started by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in 1990s, under the Advanced Experimental Torpedo (TAE) program.{{Cite web|url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19970604/15550553.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122144303/http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19970604/15550553.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-22 |title=Indian Navy's own torpedo 'Shyena' ready for trials |access-date=2012-02-20 |work=The Indian Express|year=1997 |author=Vishwanath Hiremathpune }} It is an advanced capability torpedo and is heavily based on the Whitehead A244-S torpedo. NSTL had faced a difficult task of developing a torpedo which could sustain its efficiency, in particular the maneuverability and structural integrity while travelling from the air medium to water after being launched from the air. The computers perform their respective tasks, which are the successful launch of the torpedo, the homing of the target and its control and finally the recording of the data for analysis.

Shyena is electrically propelled, and can target submarines with a speed of 33 knots with endurance of six minutes in both shallow and deep waters. It can operate at depths of a few hundred metres and has self-homing, i.e. it can home in on targets by passive/active homing and explode on impact. Once launched, it can perform pre-programmed search patterns for available targets. The torpedo weighs around 220 kg.

By 1998, Shyena was ready for trials, and it was tested 24 times by the NSTL from 1998 to 2000. During trials, thrust was laid on monitoring of various factors through four computers fitted on board Shyena. User evaluation tests with designed and engineered models of the TAL took place in 2003–2005. The tests confinced the Navy of the system's capabilities. Ninety-five per cent of the components were indigenous except a few integrated circuits and sensors. The Navy ordered 25 units, and was considered likely to order more. The TAL is currently being manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited at its Visakhapatnam unit.{{cite news |author=T. S. Subramanian |url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/torpedo-akash-missile-to-be-handed-over-to-navy-and-iaf-on-saturday/article2951593.ece |title=Torpedo, Akash missile to be handed over to Navy and IAF on Saturday |work=The Hindu |date=2012-03-02 |access-date=2013-04-05 |archive-date=15 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215044814/http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/torpedo-akash-missile-to-be-handed-over-to-navy-and-iaf-on-saturday/article2951593.ece |url-status=live }}

On 8 March 2021, the Indian Navy successfully cleared Shyena's maiden flight trial with a parachute system from the Ilyushin Il-38 maritime aircraft.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/lightweight-torpedo-test-fired-successfully/article34022882.ece|title=Lightweight torpedo test-fired successfully|work=The Hindu|date=9 March 2021|last1=Bhattacharjee|first1=Sumit|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310073028/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/lightweight-torpedo-test-fired-successfully/article34022882.ece|url-status=live}}

Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo (ALWT) is the 2nd generation of Shyena anti-submarine torpedo. The torpedo is developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). It can be launched from ship, helicopter or from a fixed wing aircraft. The torpedo boasts a dual-speed capability for which it has a range of {{Convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} at {{cvt|25|kn|km/h|order=}} and a range of {{Convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} at {{cvt|50|kn|km/h|order=}}. It uses sea-water powered battery which eliminates the requirement of pre-launch charging. On 17 July 2024, it was announced that ALWT has completed all the user trials and is poised to replace Mark 46 torpedo in the Indian Navy's inventory. The torpedo will also be integrated on the Boeing P-8I Neptune fleet of the Indian Navy for anti-submarine warfare operations.{{Cite web |title=The Indian Navy must finalise its torpedo requirements as new generation torpedoes are now beginning to emerge |url=https://forceindia.net/feature-report/undersea-attack/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-17 |title=BEL's Advanced Lightweight Torpedo (ALWT) Clears User Trials, Set to Revolutionize Anti-Submarine Warfare |url=https://defence.in/threads/bels-advanced-lightweight-torpedo-alwt-clears-user-trials-set-to-revolutionize-anti-submarine-warfare.8433/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Defence.in |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=India's P-8I Aircraft to be Armed with Indigenous Dual-Speed Light Torpedo to Bolster Aerial Anti-Submarine Defence |url=https://defence.in/threads/indias-p-8i-aircraft-to-be-armed-with-indigenous-dual-speed-light-torpedo-to-bolster-aerial-anti-submarine-defence.9557/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Defence.in |language=en-US}}

In March 2017, India signed a $37.9 million deal to supply Shyena to the Myanmar Navy.{{Cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/03/india-to-supply-torpedoes-to-myanmar/|title=India to Supply Torpedoes to Myanmar|last=Diplomat|first=Prashanth Parameswaran, The|work=The Diplomat|access-date=2017-04-29|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111190848/https://thediplomat.com/2017/03/india-to-supply-torpedoes-to-myanmar/|url-status=live}} The first batch of 20 torpedoes were delivered in July 2019.{{cite web|first1=Ankit|last1=Panda|access-date=2020-04-21|title=India Delivers Initial Batch of Indigenously Built Torpedoes to Myanmar Navy|url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/india-delivers-initial-batch-of-indigenously-built-torpedoes-to-myanmar-navy/|website=The Diplomat|date=16 July 2019|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028005735/https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/india-delivers-initial-batch-of-indigenously-built-torpedoes-to-myanmar-navy/|url-status=live}}

BDL signed a third and fourth export contract for the Shyena torpedo in 2019 to an undisclosed friendly country. The value of the contract is {{INRConvert|455.27|c|lk=on|year=2019}} and {{INRConvert|1.43|c|year=2021}} respectively. The order is planned to be executed in 2020–21.{{cite web|url=https://bdl-india.in/sites/default/files/2020-09/BDL%20AR%2019-20.pdf|title=Annual Report 2019-20 BDL|publisher=BDL India|access-date=11 October 2020|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015212826/https://bdl-india.in/sites/default/files/2020-09/BDL%20AR%2019-20.pdf|url-status=live}}

BDL has signed a total of 5 export orders for Shyena torpedoes to an undisclosed friendly country(s). Four orders has been successfully delivered while the fifth one is under execution in 2021–22.{{cite web|url=https://bdl-india.in/sites/default/files/2022-10/Annual%20Report%202021-22.pdf|title=Annual Report 2021-22|publisher=BDL India|date=2022-09-01}}

File:Shyena advance light torpedo operators.png

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• Indian Navy{{Cite journal |date=2020 |title=Enhancing Indian Defence Exports |url=https://www.sidm.in/files/1582713845_Enhancing_Indias_export.pdf |journal=Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers |pages=27 |access-date=15 May 2023 |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430111547/https://www.sidm.in/files/1582713845_Enhancing_Indias_export.pdf |url-status=live }}

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• Myanmar Navy{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-steps-up-supply-of-military-equipment-to-myanmar-to-counter-china/articleshow/57815200.cms | title=India steps up supply of military equipment to Myanmar to counter China | first=Rajat | last=Pandit | date=24 March 2017 | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=19 January 2020 | archive-date=22 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522104310/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-steps-up-supply-of-military-equipment-to-myanmar-to-counter-china/articleshow/57815200.cms | url-status=live }}
• Kyan Sittha-class frigate
• Anawrahta-class corvette
• Yan Nyein Aung-class submarine chaser

In his book "Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems", Eric Wertheim has described the Shyena as an up-and-coming torpedo developed by the DRDO.{{cite book|author=Eric Wertheim|title=Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TJunjRvplU4C&pg=PA288|date=March 2007|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1-59114-955-2|page=288}}

Pursuit and Promotion of Science, a report published by Indian National Science Academy mentions Shyena as an advanced experimental torpedo.{{citation |chapter-url=http://www.iisc.ernet.in/insa/ch31.pdf |chapter=31 Defence Research and Development Organisation |title=Pursuit and Promotion of Science : The Indian Experience |page=4 |publisher=Indian National Science Academy |oclc=52079109 |access-date=27 February 2012 |archive-date=25 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025000248/http://www.iisc.ernet.in/insa/ch31.pdf |url-status=dead }}

• APR-3E torpedo – Russian equivalent
• A244-S – Italian equivalent
• Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo – US Navy's equivalent
• MU90 Impact – French/Italian equivalent
• Sting Ray (torpedo) – British equivalent
• Yu-7 torpedo – Chinese equivalent
• K745 Chung Sang Eo – South Korean equivalent
• Type 97 light weight torpedo (G-RX4) – Japanese equivalent

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{{Indian missiles}}

Category:Torpedoes of India

Category:Indian Navy

Category:Aerial torpedoes

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2010s