The Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today dedicated to the nation the Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin (SMB) during a function held at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, in the august presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Director General, DRDO, Dr S Christopher. The Minister also handed over the Maareech - Advanced Torpedo Defence System developed by DRDO to the Navy Chief.SMB facility is one of its kind in the country, set up as a joint effort of DRDO and Indian Navy. The facility puts India among the few nations in the world having the capability to undertake comprehensive hydrodynamic model testing of naval platforms and weapon systems. SMB would help to design and build state-of-the-art naval combatants such as submarines, ships, torpedoes, etc. Maareech, a joint project of Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi and NSTL, Visakhapatnam is a state-of-the-art indigenous system for torpedo detection and countermeasures.
This system offers a complete solution to detect and locate the incoming torpedo and to apply countermeasures to protect naval platform against torpedo attack. Two production grade Maareech systems have been developed and user evaluation trials completed onboard two Indian Navy ships.Complementing the vital role of DRDO towards self-reliance and promoting the Make in India efforts, the Defence Minister said the development of complex system - Maareech is an excellent model of synergy between DRDO, Indian Navy, public and private industries, demonstrating yet another milestone in Make in India program. Later the Defence Minister gave away the prestigious DRDO National awards to DRDO Scientists across the country for their significant contributions and achievements made towards development of various weapon systems and technologies.The landmark function was attended by Member of Parliament Dr K Hari Babu and MLA Shri P Vishnu Kumar Raju along with a large number of officers of the DRDO and Armed Forces, members of the academia, civil administration and other invitees.