Torpedo Advanced Light Shyena

The Torpedo Advanced Light (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]

Shyena
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
No. built2,000+
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

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 ₹566 crore or US$71 million in 2023) and ₹1.43 crore (equivalent to ₹1.6 crore or US$200,000 in 2023) respectively. The order is planned to be executed in 2020–21.[12]

BDL has signed a total of 5 export orders for Shyena torpedoes to an undisclosed friendly country(s). Four orders has been successfully delivered while the fifth one is under execution in 2021-22.[13]

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.[15]

Pursuit and Promotion of Science, a report published by Indian National Science Academy mentions Shyena as an advanced experimental torpedo.[16]

See also

References
  1. Pandit, Rajat (24 March 2017). "India steps up supply of military equipment to Myanmar to counter China". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  2. "India successfully conducts maiden flight trial indigenous torpedo 'Shyean'". Affairs Cloud. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. "Wiktionary". Wiktionary. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021.
  4. 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. "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. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  7. 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. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  9. Bhattacharjee, Sumit (9 March 2021). "Lightweight torpedo test-fired successfully". TheHindu. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  10. Diplomat, Prashanth Parameswaran, The. "India to Supply Torpedoes to Myanmar". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Panda, Ankit (16 July 2019). "India Delivers Initial Batch of Indigenously Built Torpedoes to Myanmar Navy". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  12. "Annual Report 2019-20 BDL" (PDF). BDL India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  13. "Annual Report 2021-22" (PDF). BDL India. 1 September 2022.
  14. "Enhancing Indian Defence Exports" (PDF). Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers: 27. 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  15. 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.
  16. "31 Defence Research and Development Organisation" (PDF), Pursuit and Promotion of Science : The Indian Experience, Indian National Science Academy, p. 4, OCLC 52079109, archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2020, retrieved 27 February 2012
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