India’s High Endurance AUV Program Undergoes Developmental Trials.
India’s DRDO has been testing a prototype of its High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HEAUV) for over a year.
The maiden surface run of HEAUV was carried out in March 2024 at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) which is also a developmental partner. Recently in March 2025, HEAUV was successfully tested in a lake. DRDO tweeted that “during the trials vehicle dynamics was proven in both surface and submerged condition through multiple runs with perfect performance of sonars and communication.”
DRDO’s Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) laboratory is the developer of the six ton HEAUV. Almost 10 meters long and with a diameter of 1 meter, the AUV can dive to a depth of 300 meters. HEAUV is designed for an endurance of up to 15 days at a speed of 3 knots, with maximum speed being 8 knots. HEAUV is modular with swappable payloads for each mission.
“The rationale of developing HEAUV is that it will be an effective tool for extending the reach of the mother ship into inaccessible or contested waters without putting human life and high value assets at risk.”
DRDO
HEAUV has a low power portable X-band 360° surveillance radar by DRDO’s LRDE for ISR operations for detecting and tracking subsurface targets at periodic intervals. A specialized 45 bar pressure rated mast mounted radome has also been developed for the radar housing, which also serves as collision avoidance radar. The communication types include acoustic, UHF, C Band and satcom. A front looking sonar as well as a flank array sonar are the primary underwater sensors, with the side scan sonar intended primarily for MCM operations. Both sonars are developed by DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL). The major component of the HEAUV is its array of batteries which powers all systems including the propulsion system consisting of an electric motor connected to composite propellers. DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) is developing a capsule based hydrogen fuel cell power plant which may be used in HEAUV in the future.
The Indian MoD had released a Request for Information in 2018 to procure eight HEAUVs for the Indian Navy for ASW, MCM and ISR operations as well as bathymetric and oceanographic data gathering. In 2023, an Expression of Interest (EoI) was released, under the Make-II category of India’s Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, inviting Indian companies to develop a HEAUV for the Indian Navy specifically for ASW. However, the development of the DRDO HEAUV was well underway by then. It is expected that this HEAUV will be the prime contender for the Navy’s requirements, with no other indigenously developed HEAUV contender. The Navy will eventually purchase at least eight HEAUVs with the net requirement likely to be even higher given operational needs.
While CSL is involved in the DRDO HEAUV project, rival shipyard GRSE is also looking to indigenize a HEAUV-ASW by 2027 as part of the Indian MoD’s 5th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL). Mazagon Docks (MDL) had also floated an EoI in 2023 looking to offer its own HEAUV-ASW.
The eventual induction of HEAUV will be a shot in the arm for the Indian Navy which faces a critical lack of modern submarines due to delays in procurement programs. HEAUV will require extensive testing and sea trials before developmental trials are completed which will take time.
The Indian Navy is also moving ahead with its plan to procure 12 XLUUV under Make-1 scheme. After the completion of feasibility studies, the MoD reportedly approved the Navy’s plan for making 100 ton XLUUVs at a cost of ₹2,500cr (over $290 million) in 2024. The XLUUV will have the capability to strike enemy submarines & ships, MCM & mine laying capability and can conduct surveillance. The developmental process is expected to begin with the selection of shipyards for which a tender will be issued in the coming days.