This year, Navy also signed a contract for the supply of Surface Surveillance Radar for warships (File)
Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division will supply the Indian Navy with Portable Diver Detection Sonar or the PDDS, which will enhance its underwater surveillance capability. Fitted on ships, the PDDS detect and track underwater threats, and allow the Navy take preventive measure against possible damage to lives or property. The move is seen as a boost for the government's 'Make in India' initiative.
The Indian Navy entered the contract with Tata Power SED under the 'Buy and Make' category, the according to the Defence Ministry. This deal is in line with the government's 'Make in India' initiative for the defence sector, which aims to boost indigenous procurement of defence supplies.
The company in a statement said the order for the sonars is one of the largest in the world market.
"This is the second contract to be signed by the Indian Navy under the 'Buy and Make (Indian)' category to boost government's defence indigenisation effort," the defence ministry said in a statement. Earlier this year, the Indian Navy signed a contract for the supply of Surface Surveillance Radar for warships.
"In the last three years, we have committed the largest private sector investments in defence manufacturing at Vemagal in Karnataka. For this programme, Tata Power SED is committed along with our partner DSIT Solutions to deliver a world-class solution to Indian Navy," Rahul Chaudhry, CEO of Tata Power SED according to a report by news agency PTI.
With a transfer of technology from DSIT Solutions, Tata Power SED will manufacture the sonars at its facility in Bengaluru. DSIT is an Israel-based company that specialises in underwater security systems for commercial, energy, defence, and homeland security markets, according to its website.
(With inputs from PTI)