NPOL hands over next generation Sonar design for India Navy Ships
A copy of the software and documentation CD of HUMSA-NG was handed over by MM Pallam Raju, RRM to VVR Sastry, CMD of BEL from S Anantha Narayanan, Director, NPOL on 2nd July 2008. Till early eighties Indian Navy was dependent on British make sonars for the underwater operation. In 1981, Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi (NPOL) developed the first sonar APSOH (Advanced Panoramic Sonar Hull mounted) for fitment on warship. It was productionised by Bharat Electronics and was fitted onboard INS Himagiri. It was a great success. This and its variant HUMVAD (HUll Mounted and Variable Depth) were fitted in 10 warships. Each system costed about 3-5 crores then. With this development the indigenisation of ship sonar was achieved.
With the excellent performance of APSOH sonar, in 1990’s Indian Navy wanted technologically upgraded second generation of Frigate sonar. Navy placed order on BEL Bangalore directly with NPOL providing the design support. This model of partnership ensured the commitment on both the Navy side and production side towards induction of developed systems. The product was christened as HUMSA (HUll mounted Sonar Advanced). NPOL developed the state of the art display and signal processing hardware and software with advanced algorithms put in place. The increased processing capabilities offered by the microprocessors and signal processors available at that time, made the system quite advanced.
BEL has produced more than 14 systems to-date since 1998 and a few more are on demand. The three Talwar class Frigates India purchased from Russia in 2003-04 were also fitted with HUMSA sonar only. This system has been proving its performance in all platforms and its role has been well appreciated by the Navy.
In the year 2004, when Indian Navy decided on its capability build up plan, there was requirement to upgrade HUMSA design with current technology and architecture. The Mazagon Docks placed order with BE for 10 systems. NPOL and BEL entered into an MOU for the development. The harbour and sea trials of the first system on each class of ships are joint responsibility of NPOL and BEL. Naval Headquarters is involved in the very beginning closely monitoring the development.
NPOL had committed that it will complete the development of its part HUMSA NG (Version - 1) by June 30th 2008 and hand over to BEL so that the system can be cleared for installation in July 2008.
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