An autonomous surface vessel built by Sagar Defence Engineering has completed a 1,500-km voyage from Mumbai to Thoothukudi under without human intervention, in an endeavour supported by the Indian Navy.
Key points
- The ‘Sagarmala Parikrama’ journey was virtually flagged off by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on October 29 during Swavlamban.
- This first-of-its-kind journey highlights India’s growing expertise in autonomous maritime technology and establishes a significant milestone in developing cutting-edge, unmanned systems for national security.
- It is supported by the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC), and the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative under the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
- The Sagarmala Parikrama aligns with global advancements in autonomous surface and underwater systems, offering transformative applications in both military and civilian sectors.
- This historic milestone paves the way for future deployment of autonomous vessels in critical sea lanes, coastal surveillance, and anti-piracy operations, expanding the Indian Navy’s operational reach.
