New Delhi: At the recently concluded `Drone Mahotsav 2022’ event Larsen & Toubro (L&T) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) – a Bengaluru based start-up – to develop a new range of submarine launched drones to meet Indian Navy requirements.

Larsen and Toubro and NewSpace Research & Technologies will make a joint research and development effort to develop the submarine launched drones. The Indian Navy had recently floated a requirement for such a system through the Defence Research and Development (DRDO) Technology Development Fund.

“This will be one of the most futuristic product development efforts to come out of India and will comprise of an underwater component and an airborne component. Globally, the United States has deployed this capability on their submarines to close a viable ‘kill chain’ for their underwater launched weapons to target surface and land targets,” according to the sources.

Submarine launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are a complex design and development project given that the drone will need to navigate through water before taking to the air for flight. They are a relatively new concept with few nations around the world having the capability to operate such systems.

NewSpace Research, recently closed a Rs 150 core series ‘A’ funding from Indian venture funds and is working on different UAV projects. NewSpace Research projects include a joint development with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to develop a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) UAV and an air launched swarm drone system. Larsen and Toubro having worked extensively on Indian nuclear armed submarines of the Arihant Class, brings in its significant capability in underwater systems to the project.