Autonomous surface vessel completes 1,500-km voyage

News: An autonomous surface vessel built by Sagar Defence Engineering has completed a 1,500-km voyage from Mumbai to Thoothukudi without human intervention. This journey is named Sagarmala Parikrama.

1. The Sagamala Parikrama was virtually flagged off by Defence Minister on October 29, 2024. It was launched during Swavlamban, the annual event of Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO).

2. Indian Navy’s guidance and expertise played an instrumental role in the success of the project by providing access to testing facilities, operational feedback.

3. The success of Sagarmala Parikrama highlights India’s ability to build autonomous maritime systems indigenously, which is crucial for national security.

4. The project received support from the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) inititaive under the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).

5. The project aligns with global advancements in autonomous surface and underwater systems and paves the way for future deployment of autonomous vehicles in critical sea lanes, coastal surveillance, and anti-piracy operations.