Varunastra
The Varunastra is an Indian advanced heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo.
Developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy.
It is named after a legendary weapon created by the Hindu god of the oceans, Varuna.
The ship launched variant of Varunastra torpedo was formally inducted in the Indian navy in 2016.
It will become the mainstay of anti-submarine torpedo for all Naval warships.
Torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target.
Design:
This torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 KWs silver oxide zinc (AgOZn) batteries.
It can achieve speeds in excess of 40 kn (74 km/h), weighs around 1.5 tonnes and can carry 250 kg (550 lb) of conventional warhead.
Varunastra has conformal array transducer which enables it look at wider angles than most common torpedoes.
It is the only torpedo in the world to have a GPS-based locating aid.
Design:
It also has an advanced autonomous guidance algorithms with low drift navigational aids, insensitive warhead which can operate in various combat scenarios.
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