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India’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), coupled with an extensive coastline and expanding maritime interests, places Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) at the heart of national security imperatives. As maritime threats grow in sophistication and scale, strengthening India’s underwater capabilities has become both a strategic necessity and an operational priority.
The importance of UDA was thrust into the spotlight during Operation Sindoor, launched in the aftermath of the Pahalgam Terror Attack—the deadliest civilian attack in India since 2008. While the operation’s primary objective was to dismantle terrorist networks, it also highlighted the pressing need to secure maritime borders and underwater infrastructure, particularly against the backdrop of persistent cross-border threats.
Amid this heightened security environment, Vice Admiral AN Pramod, Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO), played a key role in reinforcing India’s maritime posture. Speaking on the threat of Pakistani aggression, he noted, “Pakistan knows very well what would happen if they attacked India.” His assertive stance reverberated through strategic and diplomatic circles, reinforcing India’s commitment to maritime deterrence.
Under his leadership, the Indian Navy adopted a forward-leaning posture in the Arabian Sea, ensuring sustained maritime pressure and surveillance. Drawing from his earlier tenure as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet—the Navy’s “sword arm”—Vice Admiral Pramod brought critical tactical expertise to the operation, enabling agile responses and complex maritime manoeuvres during a period of elevated threat.
Underwater Drones: Enhancing UDA Capabilities
One of the defining features of India’s enhanced underwater defence strategy has been the integration of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). These underwater drones are vital tools for achieving real-time monitoring, threat detection, and high-risk mission execution, significantly advancing UDA.
Captain Nikunj Parashar, Founder and Managing Director of Sagar Defence Engineering, explained in a conversation with BharatShakti:
“The deployment of underwater drones, including AUVs integrated with SDEPL’s self-learning command and control module GENISYS, is critical for enhancing Underwater Domain Awareness. Equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and communication systems, these platforms enable persistent underwater monitoring and improve global maritime security.”
According to Capt Parashar, AUVs can autonomously identify underwater threats such as naval mines or illicit activities like unregulated fishing. They conduct complex missions without endangering personnel, offering a cost-effective and efficient alternative to manned operations. These drones also bolster critical capabilities in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Mine Counter-Measure (MCM) operations, helping to secure vital shipping lanes and India’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
“Underwater drones significantly enhance surveillance capabilities by monitoring submerged traffic and protecting critical assets. Their autonomous operation allows for the efficient patrolling of vast coastlines, flagging any unauthorized or suspicious activity that could threaten national security,” Capt Parashar added.
Under Operation Sindoor’s broader strategic framework, underwater drones played a key role in safeguarding offshore installations and maritime corridors. Their deployment contributed to a multi-dimensional defence strategy, strengthening India’s readiness in contested waters.
Indigenous Innovation and Strategic Collaboration
India’s growing focus on UDA is also accelerating indigenous technological development. Today’s AUVs—powered by AI and equipped with advanced navigation systems—are capable of executing intricate underwater tasks with minimal human oversight. These systems are reshaping naval doctrines on undersea warfare and intelligence-gathering.
A notable advancement in this arena is the formation of the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA), a collaborative initiative between Sagar Defence Engineering and US-based Liquid Robotics (a Boeing subsidiary). Their joint efforts focus on developing Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) to complement underwater platforms, offering a more integrated approach to maritime domain awareness.
This collaboration not only enhances technological capabilities but also deepens India-US defence cooperation, particularly in the realms of logistics, surveillance, and intelligence sharing. As geopolitical competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific, such partnerships are crucial for enabling rapid response and operational dominance in the underwater domain.
Huma Siddiqui
