India and Australia Collaborate on Undersea Surveillance Project
New Delhi: In a significant step for defense collaboration, India and Australia have kicked off a research initiative aimed at improving undersea surveillance capabilities. This project will focus on the early detection and tracking of submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles.
According to Australia’s Department of Defence, this agreement marks the beginning of a three-year joint project involving Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The DSTG is an important agency within the Australian government and employs many scientists and engineers who provide advice and innovative solutions related to defense science and technology.
This research will utilize towed array target motion analysis technology, which is designed to make existing surveillance systems more reliable and efficient. Senior researcher Sanjeev Arulampalam from DSTG explained that a towed array consists of a long line of hydrophones, which are devices that can hear underwater sounds, and are towed behind ships or submarines on a flexible cable. He emphasized the need for innovative minds to develop new capabilities to strengthen partnerships.
The project represents a major advancement in maritime cooperation between Australia and India. It holds particular importance within the Quad framework, which includes India, Australia, the US, and Japan, aiming to counter ongoing maritime tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
By combining target motion analysis with the towed array system, the project aims to reduce noise disturbances and improve overall performance. The collaboration will involve sharing ideas, conducting trials, demonstrating algorithms, and analyzing results.
The announcement of this project follows a recent meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, during a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in the US.
