The Indian Navy is set to showcase a range of indigenous technologies at the upcoming innovation and indigenisation seminar, Swavlamban 2023. This event will highlight the progress made in various critical areas over the past year, with a focus on advancing self-reliance in the defense manufacturing sector. The navy will present 75 new technologies, including underwater swarm drones, autonomous weaponised boat swarms, blue-green lasers for underwater applications, multiple firefighting systems, and small drones with ultra-high endurance for maritime missions.
These technologies have been identified and developed by local start-ups and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), aligning with the navy’s goal of bolstering self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The Swavlamban 2023 seminar, the second of its kind organized by the navy, will take place at Bharat Mandapam on October 4-5. The first edition in July 2022 saw the navy commit to developing 75 technologies as part of the celebrations for India’s 75th year of Independence.
Some of these technologies have received initial approval, known as acceptance of necessity (AoN), from the defense ministry, marking the first step toward their induction into the armed forces. Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, the navy’s vice chief, mentioned that 12 products worth approximately ?1,500 crore have already received AoN, and approval for military hardware worth another ?1,500 crore is expected in the coming months. However, he emphasized that converting technologies into products takes time.
The showcased products will include firefighting suits made from carbon nanotubes and aerogel-based fabric, as well as firefighting robots that have undergone trials on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Swavlamban initiative has gained momentum and is on track to meet or surpass its goals, according to Vice Admiral Singh. This effort demonstrates the navy’s commitment to harnessing indigenous innovation and promoting self-reliance in defense technology, with the potential for these products to benefit the wider defense, government, civilian sectors, and even export markets.
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