KOCHI: Many a heart at the Naval Physical Oceanographic Laboratory(NPOL), Kochi, would have swelled in pride when 'INS Arihant’, the country’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, touched waters in Vishakahpatnam on Sunday. For, the eyes and ears of INS Arihant were designed and developed by scientist of the NPOL.
The sonar(Sound Navigation and Ranging) system installed on Arihant are a combination of two communication systems named `Ushus’ and ‘Panchendriya’. Panchendriya is a an integrated submarine sonar and tactical control system, comprising a passive surveillance sonar, a passive ranging sonar, an intercept sonar, an active sonar and an underwater communications system. Ushus is a new-generation sonar for `kilo-class’ submarines.
During the past two decades, the NPOL had given the Indian Navy an impressive 87 percent self-reliance in acoustic sensors for warships and submarines.
All the warships of the Navy, including ships acquired from foreign countries, are fitted with DRDO sonars like the APSOH, HUMVAD and HUMSA. Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation(usually underwater) to navigate and communicate with or detect other vessels.