Ships need not return to coast for spares, will lead to better operational logistics

The Indian Navy has successfully tested containers that can be air-dropped to enhance its operational logistics capability at sea.

Having a test payload of 50 kg, these containers, equipped to carry spares for ships up to 2,000 km away from the coast, were air-dropped into the Arabian Sea on January 8. “Successful trials of Sahayak Air Droppable Containers was undertaken from an IL-38 aircraft off the coast of Goa,” Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Indian Navy, Commander Mehul Karnik said. He added, “This will reduce the requirement of ships to be close to the coast for collecting spares and stores, thereby increasing the duration of their deployment.”

The Sahayak Containers, the Navy said, would enhance its operational logistics capability. Commander Karnik explained that a test payload of 50 kg was dropped in the container, which descended to the sea with the help of a parachute. With the success of these trials, series production of Sahayak containers and parachutes would be undertaken.

These cylindrical containers have been indigenously developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) and the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

DSRVs Deployed

The Indian Navy had last month inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) in Mumbai, to be deployed off the west coast. Another DSRV will be deployed along the east coast, in Visakhapatnam. This will reduce dependence on foreign navies for salvage and rescue. With this, the Indian Navy joins a select league of nations with the capability to rescue their submarines.