Naval Science and Technology Lab retrives torpedo from the seabed

Visakhapatnam: In a first of its kind underwater operation in the country, the Naval Science and Technology Lab, with the help of the National Institute of Ocean Technology, recovered an expensive torpedo from the seabed.

Recovery of weapons from the seabed, beyond diving depths during their evaluation trials, had been impossible till now.

In a three-day joint mission undertaken by the NSTL, with assistance from NIOT, Chennai, an entrenched system was recovered off the coast of Visakhapatnam.

The Ocean Research Vessel Sagar Nidhi and NIOT’s deep sea Remotely Operated Vehicle and a special grabber system designed by NSTL were used in the operation.

NSTL director C.D. Malleswar, and NIOT director Dr M.A. Atmanand described the recovery operation as historic. “This is a major milestone which highlights Indian capabilities,” DRDO director-general Dr V. Bhujanga Rao said.

Eastern Naval Command Commander in Chief Vice Admiral Satish Soni and other senior Naval officers visited the ship after the mission and lauded the recovery team’s efforts.