Pipavav Defence, Germany’s Atlas team up to build heavy torpedoes

Private sector Pipavav Defence and Offshoring Engineering Company (PDOC) has teamed up with Atlas Elektronik of Germany to indigenously build a heavyweight torpedoes for the Indian Navy.

Atlas, which has been supplying the SUT torpedo for the Indian Navy's Shishumar class submarines for over two decades, will help Pipavav Defence to upgrade the torpedo and make it a cutting edge heavyweight torpedo.

The Indian Navy has recently entered into a contract with Atlas to upgrade the SUT torpedo.

Atlas also offers the SeaHake mod4 torpedo, one of the most advanced heavyweight torpedoes in the world and capable of a range in excess of 140km. The SeaHake mod4 is compatible with all current and future Indian Navy submarines including those of the Scorpene and Shishumar classes.

Atlas will also transfer the technology for indigenous production of the SeaHake mod4 torpedo to meet the `Buy (Indian) and Buy and Make (Indian)' criterion.

Pipavav Defence and Atlas will create a joint venture company to which Atlas will transfer technology while Pipavav Defence will handle domestic manufacturing and business development.

The JV will be financed through equity or other appropriate investments. PDOC has begun the process of identifying domestic medium and small-scale enterprises to leverage India's existing base of expertise.

The JV partners also envision creating a centre of excellence for torpedo technology with the DRDO and leading defence PSUs such as BEL and BDL.

Thus, this cooperation will go beyond licensed production and promote domestic absorption of advanced technology to pave the way for a truly indigenous Indian torpedo, Pipavav said in a release.

''We are proud to partner with Atlas Elektronik, the leading player in torpedo technology, to build an indigenous torpedo for the Indian Navy. This partnership will allow India to build a domestic technology and manufacturing base in underwater weaponry and reduce reliance on imported products,'' Rajiv Sarman Shukla, CEO of Pipavav Defence and Offshoring Engineering Company, said.

''Our decision to partner with Pipavav is in line with our ongoing commitment to the Indian market. Atlas is unique in the range of torpedo technologies that we have to offer to India and we are confident that Pipavav are well suited to build the industrial coalition required for a complex product like the Torpedo. We look forward to an ever increasing engagement with India,'' Volker Paltzo, CEO of Atlas, added.

Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company has the largest shipyard in India and one of the largest in the world.

The company is executing an order from the Indian Navy to build 5 naval offshore patrol vessels as well as having been declared L1 by the Indian Coast Guard for orders to build fourteen fast patrol vessels and training ship. In 2013, PDOC delivered 12 new builds and repair projects to Indian and international clients.

The Atlas Elektronik Group is a leader in all fields of maritime high technology, from command and control systems, including radio and communication systems for submarines, surface combatants and mine warfare systems and ranging to heavyweight torpedoes, coastal surveillance systems and in-service support, and has a worldwide customer portfolio.

The electronics specialist is a joint company of ThyssenKrupp and Airbus DS.