Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) has developed advanced smart fuses for torpedoes used by the Navy, which will now be commercially produced by a Chandigarh-based private firm.

Christened ‘Exploder Mechanism for Heavy Torpedo Varunastra Naval Warhead’, the fuse is meant to initiate underwater detonations while preventing inadvertent or accidental detonation during transit. It will replace the existing imported fuses that are at presently being used by the Navy. Varunastra is a heavy anti-submarine torpedo with a warhead of 250 kg and a range of 40 km.

The TBRL, an establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), had started work on this project in 2014 and the exploder mechanism is the first-of-its-kind to be produced in the country, a scientist associated with the project said.

“The mechanism is an underwater fusing system designed to initiate the detonation of a torpedo warhead on impact with the target or in the target’s desired proximity,” the scientist said. “It also gives the operators surety that the warhead will detonate only when desired, which provides a higher safety level when kept on board ships or submarines,” he added.

The technology for its production was transferred to Micron Systems Private Limited and the associated documents were received by its managing director Vikram Sehgal from the Chairman, DRDO, and the Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, Dr S Christopher during the TBRL’s 57th Raising Day function here today.