Visakhapatnam, April 3 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday laid the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT) facility at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the DRDO in Visakhapatnam, an official said.

The facility will significantly enhance India’s naval research and testing capabilities, marking a major step towards achieving technological self-reliance, said an official statement.

Addressing scientists, researchers, and personnel at NSTL, the Defence Minister asserted that India, with this initiative, will be able to design, develop and test its equipment, systems and sub-systems indigenously, utilising its own resources, position itself as a strong naval power and a leader in defence technology.

“Until now, even after successfully developing equipment, systems, and sub-systems, we often had to look abroad for critical testing. This situation will now change,” he said.

Rajnath Singh said that this facility is not merely an infrastructure project, but an enabling system, which will strengthen our capabilities in advancing propulsion systems, enable focused efforts on noise reduction, and further strengthen stealth capabilities.

“It will serve as a foundational backbone for the design and development of submarines and ships, supporting future advancements in naval engineering and maritime defence systems,” he said.

Rajnath Singh described the project as a symbol of the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

He stated that the government’s determination to make India self-reliant is intrinsically linked to the national security apparatus, and despite challenges, the country has achieved complete Aatmanirbharta in various sectors due to the concerted efforts of the domestic industry, academia, MSMEs, youth, and researchers.

During the visit, the Defence Minister was briefed about the NSTL projects/programmes by the Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr Samir V Kamat.

He also visited the Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin, where he witnessed an impressive display of advanced underwater systems, including torpedoes, naval mines, decoys, and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

A live demonstration of a swarm of man-portable AUVs showcased India’s growing prowess in autonomous maritime operations and next-generation underwater warfare technologies, underlining the nation’s focus on future-ready defence systems.

The Defence Minister also inspected some of the vital products realised as spin-off technologies by the Naval Systems Materials cluster labs post Operation Sindoor, said the statement.

–IANS

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