Krishna Defence and Allied Industries has started construction on the country’s largest and most advanced Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) designed by the Indian Navy. The AUV, a next-generation unmanned underwater platform, is designed to operate at depths exceeding 300 metres with an endurance of up to 45 days, enabling critical long-duration surveillance, reconnaissance, and strategic deployment. Its development marks India’s foray into a highly specialised segment of underwater autonomous defence systems, placing it alongside nations like the USA, UK, and Canada.
The Indian Navy has been able to get several companies like Krishna Defence, Rekise Marine and SAIL together for building this complex platform. Notably, the AUV is being built using indigenised steel developed by SAIL, a testament to India’s deepening self-reliance in complex materials.
Addressing the delegation, Ankur Shah, Managing Director, Krishna Defence, “This project isn’t about building a vehicle; it’s about building technical strategic independence. Today, we are laying the foundation for a new era of underwater autonomy and a future in which India is no longer just participating but leading. We are proud to be trusted by the Indian Navy as their partner in this mission.”
The global autonomous underwater vehicle market is valued at US$2.0 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$4.3 billion by 2029, reflecting rising interest in unmanned marine systems. The application of this is not limited to defence, but would have wide use in oceanography, oil and gas and other marine applications.This project supports the government of India’s vision of becoming a high-tech defence manufacturing hub, with a targeted $6 Billion approx in defence exports by 2029. It also showcases the ability of agile, SME-listed players like Krishna Defence to take on high-impact, complex defence engineering mandates in partnership with the nation’s key stakeholders.
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