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Taking up naval defence - The Hindu
The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam, designs, develops and tests underwater weapons.
The efforts of the three arms of the defence forces have to be harmonised for ensuring the safety and security of India. The role of any one of these is not less significant than that of the other two.
The naval force operates primarily in the sea. The design and operation of effective underwater weapon systems is an important component of naval operations. There is a stunning variety of underwater weaponry and equipment. To keep the naval operations efficient and effective, the nation should not only keep itself abreast of the global trends but also go a step further to beat the enemy through technological innovations generated through research.
The shock waves formed under water are of shorter duration because of the elastic properties of water. Further, their energy attenuates quickly. They do not cause the same level of damage as the waves in the air. Often, underwater warheads make use of the interaction of the steam void created by the explosion with the hull of a ship for damaging it.
This technique can be used to damage submarines. There are underwater bombs and depth charges which can be set to detonate at a particular depth and dropped on the submarine to stop its functioning. Torpedoes, which are self-contained weapon systems, can be controlled even remotely. Sea mines can be employed to cordon off enemy ships and submarines. Mine cleaning is a tough operation. This may involve cutting the cables of moored mines, remotely operated robotic vehicles or detonation by towed sled. Research and development in the area indicated above comprise studies on control systems, ocean engineering, sonar, surveillance, torpedoes, underwater weapons, targets, underwater tracking ranges, weapon launchers and so on.
NSTL
The Defence Research and Development Organisation has a laboratory that focusses on these vital areas of naval defence: the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Vigyan Nagar, Visakhapatnam 532 007;
Website: Redirecting ... drdo/labs/NSTL/ English/index.jsp? pg=homebody.jsp.
The NSTL designs, develops and tests underwater weapons and associated systems. There are hydrodynamic studies of surface and sub-surface platforms and bodies. Stealth technologies for naval platforms form another important area of its activities. (Stealth technology makes vehicles or missiles nearly invisible to enemy radar or electronic detecting device.)
The laboratory establishes test facilities for torpedoes, mines and decoys. (A decoy is an imitation of a person, object or phenomenon which is intended to deceive enemy surveillance devices or to mislead enemy evaluation.)
The NSTL was established in 1969 to undertake R&D for making the Navy self-reliant. It is noted for excellence in several areas:
Design and development of underwater weapons and associated systems.
Stealth technologies for naval platforms.
Test facilities for torpedoes, mines, and decoys.
Design for magnetic, acoustic and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic signatures.
Rendering expert services in its specialised technology.
Continual improvement in technological fields it serves.
Warship technology
Fleet support activities such as evaluation of machinery for shock resistance, online vibration monitoring and noise and magnetic ranging and analysis.
Facilities
The laboratory has enormous infrastructure to meet the tough demands on it. Research scholars who aspire to work here have ample opportunities to handle a rich variety of sophisticated equipment. Some of the items are indicated below.
High-speed towing tank: it is a hydrodynamic test facility meeting global standards. The tank has a high-speed towing carriage which runs at a maximum speed of 20 metres a seconds and runs on parallel rails with a tolerance of 0.2 mm over 100-m length; it follows the earths curvature. It has a wave generator to simulate random and irregular sea conditions while testing.
Cavitation tunnel: the cavitation tunnel in the lab is one of the most modern facilities in the world. This is used to study the cavitation of body profile and propellers. It is employed for the study of acoustic measurements consequent on cavitation.
Wind tunnel: the wind tunnel studies the aerodynamic characteristics of surface and submerged platforms and underwater weapons. The tunnel has a test section of 1.5x1.5x4 m. A maximum speed of 60 metres a second can be produced with a 125-kW fan in this wind tunnel. It helps in studies such as flow visualisation and boundary layer studies for underwater vehicles.
Acoustic, shock, noise and vibration test facilities: measurement, study, analysis and mitigation of underwater noise generated by ships and submarines are necessary for a healthy and stealthy naval fleet. A silent ship is possible only if its machinery and equipment are silent and their vibrations isolated. This can be achieved through condition-monitoring of machines as well as shock and vibration isolation mounts. Naval ships have to be so designed that they withstand the shock and remain operational, even if hit by enemy weapons. The NSTL has facilities to meet these demands. The equipment in this segment includes the following.
Floating shock platform.
Shock test tank.
Shock testing machine.
Vibration shaker.
Shock and vibration mounts.
Condition monitoring system.
Acoustic test centre.
Anechoic room.
Reverberation room.
Acoustic tank facility.
Electrical propulsion test centre.
High-pressure test chambers.
Prototype workshop.
Field test facilities underwater systems.
Lake test facility at Nagarjuna Sagar.
Under water ranges off the Goa coast.
Range test centre off the Goa coast.
The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam, designs, develops and tests underwater weapons.
The efforts of the three arms of the defence forces have to be harmonised for ensuring the safety and security of India. The role of any one of these is not less significant than that of the other two.
The naval force operates primarily in the sea. The design and operation of effective underwater weapon systems is an important component of naval operations. There is a stunning variety of underwater weaponry and equipment. To keep the naval operations efficient and effective, the nation should not only keep itself abreast of the global trends but also go a step further to beat the enemy through technological innovations generated through research.
The shock waves formed under water are of shorter duration because of the elastic properties of water. Further, their energy attenuates quickly. They do not cause the same level of damage as the waves in the air. Often, underwater warheads make use of the interaction of the steam void created by the explosion with the hull of a ship for damaging it.
This technique can be used to damage submarines. There are underwater bombs and depth charges which can be set to detonate at a particular depth and dropped on the submarine to stop its functioning. Torpedoes, which are self-contained weapon systems, can be controlled even remotely. Sea mines can be employed to cordon off enemy ships and submarines. Mine cleaning is a tough operation. This may involve cutting the cables of moored mines, remotely operated robotic vehicles or detonation by towed sled. Research and development in the area indicated above comprise studies on control systems, ocean engineering, sonar, surveillance, torpedoes, underwater weapons, targets, underwater tracking ranges, weapon launchers and so on.
NSTL
The Defence Research and Development Organisation has a laboratory that focusses on these vital areas of naval defence: the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Vigyan Nagar, Visakhapatnam 532 007;
Website: Redirecting ... drdo/labs/NSTL/ English/index.jsp? pg=homebody.jsp.
The NSTL designs, develops and tests underwater weapons and associated systems. There are hydrodynamic studies of surface and sub-surface platforms and bodies. Stealth technologies for naval platforms form another important area of its activities. (Stealth technology makes vehicles or missiles nearly invisible to enemy radar or electronic detecting device.)
The laboratory establishes test facilities for torpedoes, mines and decoys. (A decoy is an imitation of a person, object or phenomenon which is intended to deceive enemy surveillance devices or to mislead enemy evaluation.)
The NSTL was established in 1969 to undertake R&D for making the Navy self-reliant. It is noted for excellence in several areas:
Design and development of underwater weapons and associated systems.
Stealth technologies for naval platforms.
Test facilities for torpedoes, mines, and decoys.
Design for magnetic, acoustic and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic signatures.
Rendering expert services in its specialised technology.
Continual improvement in technological fields it serves.
Warship technology
Fleet support activities such as evaluation of machinery for shock resistance, online vibration monitoring and noise and magnetic ranging and analysis.
Facilities
The laboratory has enormous infrastructure to meet the tough demands on it. Research scholars who aspire to work here have ample opportunities to handle a rich variety of sophisticated equipment. Some of the items are indicated below.
High-speed towing tank: it is a hydrodynamic test facility meeting global standards. The tank has a high-speed towing carriage which runs at a maximum speed of 20 metres a seconds and runs on parallel rails with a tolerance of 0.2 mm over 100-m length; it follows the earths curvature. It has a wave generator to simulate random and irregular sea conditions while testing.
Cavitation tunnel: the cavitation tunnel in the lab is one of the most modern facilities in the world. This is used to study the cavitation of body profile and propellers. It is employed for the study of acoustic measurements consequent on cavitation.
Wind tunnel: the wind tunnel studies the aerodynamic characteristics of surface and submerged platforms and underwater weapons. The tunnel has a test section of 1.5x1.5x4 m. A maximum speed of 60 metres a second can be produced with a 125-kW fan in this wind tunnel. It helps in studies such as flow visualisation and boundary layer studies for underwater vehicles.
Acoustic, shock, noise and vibration test facilities: measurement, study, analysis and mitigation of underwater noise generated by ships and submarines are necessary for a healthy and stealthy naval fleet. A silent ship is possible only if its machinery and equipment are silent and their vibrations isolated. This can be achieved through condition-monitoring of machines as well as shock and vibration isolation mounts. Naval ships have to be so designed that they withstand the shock and remain operational, even if hit by enemy weapons. The NSTL has facilities to meet these demands. The equipment in this segment includes the following.
Floating shock platform.
Shock test tank.
Shock testing machine.
Vibration shaker.
Shock and vibration mounts.
Condition monitoring system.
Acoustic test centre.
Anechoic room.
Reverberation room.
Acoustic tank facility.
Electrical propulsion test centre.
High-pressure test chambers.
Prototype workshop.
Field test facilities underwater systems.
Lake test facility at Nagarjuna Sagar.
Under water ranges off the Goa coast.
Range test centre off the Goa coast.
