Torpedo: Indian Navy Gets Delivery Of First Varunastra
Hyderabad, 21 Nov 2020: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO flagged off the first Varunastra, the Heavy Weight Torpedo, being delivered to the Indian Navy, at a ceremony held at BDL, Visakhapatnam Unit today.
Foundation stone was also laid by Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO for setting up of state-of-the-art Central Stores at BDL, Visakhapatnam Unit.
Vice Admiral K. Srinivas, AVSM, NM, VSM Project Director, Ship Building Centre, Dr Samir V. Kamat, Distinguished Scientist & Director General, Naval Systems & Materials (NS&M), DRDO, Dr OR Nandagopan, Outstanding Scientist & Director, Naval Science & Technological Laboratory and other dignitaries from DRDO were present.
Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, BDL, Shri N P Diwakar, Director (Technical), BDL and other senior officials from the Company were also present.
Varunastra or the Heavy Weight Torpedo has been designed and developed by NSTL, Visakhapatnam. BDL, being the Production Agency, is manufacturing Varunastra at its Visakhapatnam Unit for the Indian Navy. This product is also being offered for export.
BDL is associated with DRDO for its various Missile Programmes. BDL is the Production Agency for Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), for which, trials were conducted successfully recently.
BDL is also the Production Agency for Astra Air- to- Air Missile System and has commenced manufacturing of these missiles. The missile system will be fully indigenous and has been developed by the DRDO for the Indian Air Force.
Dr Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO during his address appreciated the synergy between all stakeholders, especially the design agency NSTL and the production agency BDL in completion of the manufacture of the first Varunastra. He also brought out that BDL should gear up for new programs of ALWT and EHWT.
Commodore Siddharth Mishra, CMD BDL brought out that BDL is poised to take on the manufacture of futuristic weapon systems. Towards this, the BDL team is committed to hone new skills and create the necessary infrastructure.
