New Delhi: Amid the growing trend of unmanned warfare, the Defense Ministry has approved the Indian Navy's plan to build unmanned underwater vessels worth more than Rs 2,500 crore. The construction of these 100-tonne vessels was approved in a recent high-level meeting in the ministry.

Navy's strength will increase underwater

Defence sources said that these ships, which are larger than normal ships, will be equipped with the capability to attack enemy submarines and ships on the surface of the water. When former Deputy Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, was asked about their capabilities, he said that these ships will provide special underwater capabilities to the Navy. This will help the Navy in many operations.

Navy will use it for these works

Sources said the Navy plans to use these ships for a variety of tasks including laying mines, demining, surveillance and firing weapons. The Navy will issue a tender for the project in the next few months and Indian shipyards will bid for it under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Surveillance of suspicious vessels

The Navy would like ships that can remain underwater for a very long time at a great distance from the coast so that the movement of suspicious ships and other activities can be monitored and national interests can be protected. It is worth noting that the Navy is also working on such unmanned ships, which have been used to destroy large ships and assets in ongoing conflicts around the world.

Focus on unmanned surveillance

The Navy is also focused on enhancing its unmanned long-range surveillance capabilities by inducting drones like the MQ-9B and the Drishti Hermes 900 in addition to future drones.