NEERAKSHI
WHY IN NEWS ?
- Recently, India launched ‘Neerakshi’ – Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for mine detection.
ABOUT NEERAKSHI:
- The AUV named ‘Neerakshi’ is a collaboration of Kolkata-based warshipmaker Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd and MSME entity AEPL.
- The commercial launch of the AUV is likely to be within six months to a year after completion of user trials by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and possibly the Army too.
- The AUV, which is a compact 2.1-meter long cylinder weighing about 45 kg.
- The AUV is capable of mine detection, but the future plan is to ensure that this can be made capable of mine disposal also.
- It has an endurance of four hours and can go up to 300 metres deep.
OBJECTIVES OF NEERAKSHI:
- Neerakshi,” a petite yet powerful vehicle, boasts versatility in its functional range – from mine detection and disposal to underwater surveying.
- The AUV, currently capable of mine detection, is part of GRSE’s broader ambitions to create autonomous sea surface vehicles, sea-based drones, and explore green propulsion technologies.
SYLLABUS: PRELIMS, CURRENT AFFAIRS
