Advanced Light Torpedo Shyena

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Shyena
Shyena.png
Advanced Light Torpedo Shyena
TypeLightweight torpedo
Place of originIndia
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Production history
DesignerNaval Science and Technological Laboratory[1]
ManufacturerBharat Dynamics Limited
Larsen & Toubro Limited
ProducedMarch 2012 – present
Specifications
Mass220 kg (490 lb)
Length2.75 m (9.0 ft)
Diameter324 mm (12.8 in)
WarheadHigh explosive
Warhead weight50 kg (110 lb)
EngineElectric
Operational
range
19 km (10 nmi)[2]
Maximum depth540 m (1,770 ft)
Maximum speed 33 kn (61.1 km/h; 38.0 mph)
Guidance
system
Acoustic homing (active/passive)
Launch
platform
Ships, submarines, helicopters and Ilyushin Il-38

The Advanced Light Torpedo (TAL) Shyena (Sanskrit: श्येन, "Falcon or Hawk"[3]) is the first indigenous advanced lightweight anti-submarine torpedo of India, developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. The lightweight torpedo can be launched by ships, submarines, helicopters and Ilyushin Il-38, named after the divine hawk identified with Agni.[4][5][6]

Introduction[]

Shyena is a processor based torpedo which incorporates solid-state electronics, digital technology and has been equipped with an integrated Active/Passive sensor package for homing. It is designed to be capable of being launched from both a helicopter or from a triple-tube launcher on surface vessels. Its key design feature are maneuverability and ability to transition from warm to cold medium to ensure a hunt and kill.[4][5] The development period of the torpedo was quite long, starting in the 1990s, and was inducted into the Indian Navy on 3 March 2012, when the Defence Minister A.K. Antony handed over the first consignment of TAL to the Navy in Hyderabad.[5]

Design and development[]

Development of this missile was started by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in 1990s, under the Advanced Experimental Torpedo (TAE) program.[5][7] It is an advanced capability torpedo and is heavily based on the Whitehead A244-S torpedo.[4] NSTL had faced a difficult task of developing a torpedo which could sustain its efficiency, in particular the maneuverability and structural integrity while travelling from the air medium to water after being launched from air. The computers perform their respective tasks, which are the successful launch of the torpedo, the homing of the target and its control and finally the recording of the data for analysis.[4]

Shyena is electrically propelled, and can target submarines with a speed of 33 knots with endurance of six minutes in both shallow and deep waters. It can operate at depths of a few hundred metres and has self-homing, i.e. it can home in on targets by passive/active homing and explode on impact. Once launched, it can perform pre-programmed search patterns for available targets. The torpedo weighs around 220 kg.[5]

Deployment[]

By 1998, Shyena was ready for trials, and it was tested 24 times by the NSTL from 1998 to 2000. During trials, thrust was laid on monitoring of various factors through four computers fitted on board Shyena.[7] User evaluation tests with designed and engineered models of the TAL took place in 2003–2005, following which the Navy was convinced of the system's capabilities, and the fact that 95 per cent of the components were indigenous except a few integrated circuits and sensors, and ordered 25 units, and is likely to order more. The TAL is currently being manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited at its Visakhapatnam unit.[5][8]

On 8 March 2021, Indian Navy successfully cleared its maiden flight trial with a parachute system from the Ilyushin Il-38 maritime aircraft.[9]

Export[]

In March 2017, India signed a $37.9 million deal to supply Shyena to the Myanmar Navy.[1][10] The first batch of these torpedoes were delivered in July 2019.[11]

BDL signed a third and fourth export contract for the Shyena torpedo in 2019 to an undisclosed friendly country. The value of the contract is ₹455.27 crore (equivalent to ₹481 crore or US$64 million in 2020) and ₹1.43 crore (US$190,000) respectively. The order is planned to be executed in 2020–21.[12]

Operators[]

Map of Shyena torpedo operators in blue
 India
 Myanmar

Coverage[]

In his book "Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems", Eric Wertheim has described the Shyena as an up-and-coming torpedo developed by the DRDO.[14]

Pursuit and Promotion of Science, a report published by Indian National Science Academy mentions Shyena as an advanced experimental torpedo.[15]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Pandit, Rajat (24 March 2017). "India steps up supply of military equipment to Myanmar to counter China". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  2. ^ "India successfully conducts maiden flight trial indigenous torpedo 'Shyean'". Affairs Cloud. Retrieved 23 July 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Wiktionary". Wiktionary. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Austin Joseph (January–February 2001). "Modern Torpedoes And Countermeasures". BHARAT RAKSHAK MONITOR Volume 3(4). Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Indian Navy to receive Indigenous Light Torpedo SHYENA". SPS Naval Forces. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Torpedo Advanced Light (TAL)". DRDO. New Delhi. Retrieved 23 July 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b Vishwanath Hiremathpune (1997). "Indian Navy's own torpedo 'Shyena' ready for trials". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  8. ^ T. S. Subramanian (2 March 2012). "Torpedo, Akash missile to be handed over to Navy and IAF on Saturday". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  9. ^ Bhattacharjee, Sumit (9 March 2021). "Lightweight torpedo test-fired successfully". TheHindu.
  10. ^ Diplomat, Prashanth Parameswaran, The. "India to Supply Torpedoes to Myanmar". The Diplomat. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  11. ^ a b Panda, Ankit (16 July 2019). "India Delivers Initial Batch of Indigenously Built Torpedoes to Myanmar Navy". The Diplomat. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Annual Report 2019-20 BDL" (PDF). BDL India. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  13. ^ https://sidm.in/assets/pdf/publications/1582713845_Enhancing_Indias_export.pdf
  14. ^ Eric Wertheim (March 2007). Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. Naval Institute Press. p. 288. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2.
  15. ^ "31 Defence Research and Development Organisation" (PDF), Pursuit and Promotion of Science : The Indian Experience, Indian National Science Academy, p. 4, OCLC 52079109
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