BDL Collaborates with Ultra Maritime to Provide Sonobuoys for the Indian Navy.
National
In January 2025, Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), an Indian Defence Public Sector Undertaking, partnered with Ultra Maritime, a United States (US)-based global leader in undersea warfare systems, to supply and manufacture sonobuoys adhering to US Navy standards for the Indian Navy (IN).
- The collaboration was announced by US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan during his visit to India from January 5 to 6, 2025.
- These innovations aim to enhance sonar performance in the Indian Ocean, enabling advanced wide-area search capabilities with custom solutions under the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), launched in May 2022.
- Sonobuoys are small, disposable sonar devices used to detect submarines and underwater threats for about 24 hours. Deployed by naval helicopters or aircraft in specific patterns, they activate automatically upon hitting water. Active sonobuoys emit sound and relay echoes, while passive sonobuoys listen for underwater sounds and transmit them to aircraft.
Main Point :- (i) Sonobuoys, crucial for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), will be produced locally at BDL’s facilities in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), under a Joint Venture (JV) with Ultra Maritime. The production facility is expected to become operational by 2027.
(ii) The Ultra Maritime sonobuoys manufactured in India will be compatible with systems used by the U.S. Navy, Indian Navy, and allied forces, including platforms such as P-8, MH-60R, and MQ-9B Sea Guardian aircraft.
(iii) The Indian Navy currently operates 12 P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, which deploy sonobuoys for anti-submarine operations. In August 2024, US President Joe Biden’s administration approved a USD 52.8 million government-to-government deal for the sale of US-made sonobuoys to India.
About Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
CMD : Commodore A Madhavarao
Headquarters - Hyderabad
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