Underwater Guardians: DRDO’s New AI-Driven MP-AUV Fleet Poised To Transform Mine Warfare Operations

In a significant boost to India’s underwater warfare preparedness, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed a new generation of Man-portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MP-AUVs) designed specifically for mine countermeasure (MCM) missions.

Designed indigenously, this system comprises multiple AUVs equipped with Side Scan Sonar and under water Cameras as primary payloads for real-time detection and classification of Mine-Like Objects. These MP-AUVs have been developed by the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam.

These compact underwater vehicles are engineered to be rapidly deployable, easy to transport, and highly effective in detecting and neutralising naval mines in contested waters.

How do these AUVs detect mines?

Each MP-AUV carries a sophisticated sensor suite, including side scan sonar, high-resolution underwater cameras. These payloads provide real-time detection and classification of mine-like objects on the seabed. Backing the hardware is an advanced deep learning-based target recognition algorithm that autonomously identifies threats.

This drastically reduces operator workload, accelerates decision-making, and shortens mission timelines. “A robust underwater acoustic communication mechanism has been integrated to facilitate inter-AUV data exchange during mission execution ensuring enhanced situational awareness,” DRDO said.

What makes the system smarter?

To enhance coordinated mission execution, DRDO has integrated a robust underwater acoustic communication system that allows AUVs to share data while submerged. This networked capability improves situational awareness, multi-vehicle coordination, overall mission efficiency.

Recent field trials at the NSTL harbour validated sensor performance, communication reliability, autonomy functions, key mission parameters. The success of these tests marks a crucial step toward operational induction. With several industry partners already on board, production is expected to begin in the coming months.

DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Dr Samir V. Kamat, hailed the development as a major milestone. He emphasised that the MP-AUVs represent a transformative capability in deployable mine countermeasures, intelligent underwater autonomy, reduced operational risk, lower logistical footprint.

According to him, the AUVs will give the Navy a rapid-response with reduced operational risk and logistic footprint for naval mine warfare applications.