In a transformative shift in naval defense, the Indian Navy is initiating the deployment of 12 indigenous autonomous surface vessels, capable of traversing vast distances without human intervention. This development highlights the changing landscape of modern warfare, where unmanned technologies are revolutionizing combat strategies on land, air, and now, the sea. These Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) arrive as a strategic response to a range of security challenges faced by India’s extensive maritime boundaries, echoing the evolving role of uncrewed systems in both combat and surveillance.
This initiative is part of the Indian Navy’s modernization efforts, which focus on enhancing maritime security and boosting India’s operational reach across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). At the forefront of this transformation is the Matangi, a 13-meter USV engineered by Sagar Defence Engineering. Matangi recently demonstrated its capabilities by autonomously covering a 1,500-kilometer voyage from Mumbai to Tuticorin in the Arabian Sea. Equipped with advanced navigation and collision-avoidance software, Matangi marks a leap in India’s defense technology.
“Matangi will serve as the eyes and ears for the Indian Navy,” a defense official said. Integrated within the OODA loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act—Matangi can pursue suspicious vessels at strategic chokepoints, an essential capability for safeguarding India’s maritime borders.
In addition to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) duties, Matangi’s adaptability means it can be weaponized to serve multiple roles, including armed strikes and logistical support. Unlike traditional patrol boats, these USVs can remain in the water indefinitely, refueled at sea, and controlled remotely via satellite or radio frequency. This setup gives the Indian Navy an unprecedented operational reach and ability to adapt to various missions on short notice.
India’s push to bolster maritime security has been driven by hard lessons from history. The induction of these unmanned vessels comes 26 years after the devastating 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. On November 26, 2008, ten armed terrorists launched an assault on India’s financial hub, Mumbai, after slipping past India’s maritime defenses in speedboats from Pakistan. The attack claimed 166 lives, left over 300 wounded, and exposed serious vulnerabilities in India’s coastal security.
Since then, India has taken a series of steps to secure its maritime borders, leading to an evolved security framework underpinned by advanced technological solutions. The deployment of autonomous USVs is one such measure, directly addressing the challenges posed by an expansive coastline and busy sea routes that need constant monitoring.
USVs like Matangi are cost-effective and low-risk yet potent assets in naval warfare, enabling robust responses to various maritime threats. The small but powerful vessel, described by an Indian Navy official as a “chota packet, bada dhamaka” (small package, big impact), boasts remarkable endurance and versatility. It supports ISR missions and can be outfitted for a variety of roles, such as:
- Reconnaissance and Surveillance: Scanning vast sea areas and choke points.
- Logistical Transport: Moving critical equipment and supplies autonomously.
- Armed Strike Missions: Delivering small arms fire or conducting kamikaze-style attacks if weaponized.
- Electronic Warfare: Gathering intelligence and disrupting enemy communications if equipped for such tasks.
Furthermore, Matangi’s design allows it to be reconfigured for more specialized applications, such as seabed mapping, deploying sonar arrays, or potentially even taking on roles in electronic warfare—capabilities essential for modern naval operations.
The Indian Navy has closely observed the transformative role of USVs in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where unmanned vessels were effectively deployed by Ukrainian forces against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in 2022. These Ukrainian USVs, albeit simpler in design, leveraged low-cost commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to carry out surprise assaults. Powered by technologies as accessible as recreational jet propulsion and armed with Starlink connectivity for control, these vessels initiated a new mode of naval combat: kamikaze-style sea strikes.
Since then, Ukrainian forces have expanded on this tactic, integrating more sophisticated weaponry, such as multiple-launch rocket systems, on their unmanned boats. Their experience underscores the strategic advantage of deploying USVs en masse to disrupt and even overwhelm larger, traditional fleets. For the Indian Navy, Matangi’s potential for similar, adaptable deployment strategies is a critical consideration as it builds a fleet of autonomous vessels.
India’s maritime area of interest spans from the Gulf of Aden in the west to the Strait of Malacca in the east, covering critical sea lanes for international trade and energy transport. This strategic corridor is also an arena of increasing Chinese naval activity and piracy threats, both necessitating India’s vigilant monitoring and quick response capabilities.
USVs like Matangi, with satellite control, enable India to extend its maritime reach far beyond traditional capabilities, covering gaps in both logistics and surveillance. They allow the Navy to station USVs at strategic points for prolonged periods, thereby securing key trade routes and preventing unauthorized or hostile vessels from approaching sensitive coastal zones.
Furthermore, as these USVs evolve, the potential for swarm tactics becomes a strategic advantage. By deploying groups of USVs, each capable of different tasks—such as one handling surveillance, another carrying munitions, and a third equipped for electronic warfare—the Navy can create an agile, multifaceted response to a variety of threats, from piracy to possible invasions.
Compared to aerial drones, USVs have the advantage of carrying larger payloads and staying active for extended periods. Their stability on the water allows them to damage crucial areas of enemy vessels, like munitions storage and engines, with well-placed explosive strikes or targeted fire. In hostile environments, a fleet of low-cost, explosive-laden USVs could overwhelm the defensive capabilities of high-cost warships by striking simultaneously from multiple directions.
Beyond combat, the inherent versatility of USVs opens doors to many secondary applications. For example, USVs can be stationed along coastal areas to survey potential mineral deposits, assess environmental health, or even monitor for illegal fishing. Such activities would enhance the Navy’s peacetime contributions to India’s maritime economy, adding value to the investment in autonomous technologies.
Matangi’s autonomous navigation system integrates satellite control, providing global reach and ensuring seamless operation across different communication mediums, including satellite uplink and radio frequency. If necessary, the USV can be manually controlled by nearby assets like warships or helicopters. This ability to transition from autonomous to manual control ensures that the vessel can be guided in real-time in response to developing situations, allowing for responsive decision-making in sensitive zones.
Refuelable at sea, Matangi can remain in operation indefinitely, significantly expanding India’s ability to monitor strategic areas continuously. This feature is especially advantageous for monitoring high-traffic zones like the Malacca Strait, where an uninterrupted naval presence is critical.
The induction of 12 USVs, led by the pioneering Matangi, is a landmark moment in India’s maritime strategy, offering a blueprint for future technological advancements in naval defense. As autonomous capabilities progress, the Indian Navy can look to expand its USV fleet with specialized vessels, each fine-tuned for particular missions.
- Enhanced Weaponization: Future USVs could carry heavier and more varied weapon systems, enhancing their potential for both defense and offensive strikes.
- Artificial Intelligence Integration: AI could allow USVs to autonomously assess and engage threats, reducing the need for constant human oversight.
- Swarming Capabilities: Coordinated swarming, with USVs operating together as a cohesive unit, could enhance offensive operations, particularly in hostile environments.
- Collaborative ISR Operations: Unmanned vessels could collaborate with aerial drones to create a comprehensive intelligence network that detects, tracks, and responds to threats across different layers of the oceanic environment.
