DRDO’s new underwater portable AUVs with AI can now hunt mines on their own; here’s how

India has taken a significant step in upgrading its underwater warfare edge. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a new generation of man-portable autonomous underwater vehicles (MP-AUVs) designed to detect and classify naval mines using artificial intelligence, a capability that has traditionally required heavy, crew-intensive systems.

AI, sonar and multi-vehicle coordination at the core

Developed by DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, the MP-AUV platform is built around three pillars: advanced sensors, onboard AI, and underwater communication.

Each AUV carries Side Scan Sonar and underwater cameras as primary payloads, enabling the system to map the seabed in real time and flag suspicious objects. What makes the new generation stand out is DRDO’s deep-learning target recognition algorithm, which allows the vehicle to autonomously classify mine-like objects, reducing operator workload and cutting mission time.

To elevate performance further, DRDO has integrated a robust underwater acoustic communication link, letting multiple AUVs exchange data and coordinate movements mid-mission. Essentially, the system can operate like a swarm, improving detection accuracy and situational awareness.