The Indian Navy plans to install Atlas Elektronik-developed sonar systems on the domestic-built Mazagon Dock-built Delhi-class and Russian-origin Talwar-class warships to boost anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Press Trust of India (PTI) cites Navy officials as saying that Atlas Elektronik is the lowest bidder, while the proposal is yet to receive the Indian defence ministry’s approval on the signing of the agreement.

"The project is destined to be rolled out to various classes of ships including Delhi, Talwar, Kamorta, Shivalik and Kolkata."

Atlas Elektronik’s India head Khalil Rahman said the first six sonar systems for the ships will be developed at the company’s facilities and significantly the follow-on batches would be built in India, under the transfer of technology (ToT) arrangement with Indian public sector unit.

"Atlas Elektronik has won the competition for the ATAS, which will equip the Delhi and Talwar-class ships initially and subsequently be manufactured in India under cooperation with Bharat Electronics Limited," Rahman said. "The project is destined to be rolled out to various classes of ships including Delhi, Talwar, Kamorta, Shivalik and Kolkata."

The active towed array sonar (ATAS) enables the ships to detect submarines and torpedoes beyond the weapon range of the submarine.

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The sonar also allows observation of the sea space at ranges considerably above 60km, depending on the propagation conditions of the water, company officials said.

"The system is therefore not only ideal for hunting submarines but also for the wide-area reconnaissance of surface combatants," Rahman added.

In December 2013, the company received an order for 70mm ACTA towed array sonars for Royal Thai Navy.

Defence Technology