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| PointShield Portable Diver Detection Sonar (DSIT Solutions) |
By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
NEW DELHI — The Indian Navy plans to buy 78 portable diver detection sonar (PDDS) systems to improve littoral defenses, but only from domestic sources.
The US$70 million tender seeks to procure the systems under the “Buy and Make (Indian)” category, under which domestic firms forge joint ventures with overseas companies, but at least half of the system has to be sourced from homemade components.
The Navy uses sonar detection systems on ships procured from Sonardyne International of the UK; this will be the first time it has used portable diver detection systems.
Indian Defence Ministry sources said negotiations to procure PDDS gear from Israel on a fast-track basis were halted last year, when India changed its policy and decided instead to explore possibilities in the domestic market. While no domestic companies have built a PDDS system, MoD sources said defense companies will tie up with overseas defense companies to compete for the tender.
Read the full story at DefenseNews
NOTE: The “Diver Detection Sonar” Link in the above was added by PacificSentinel for clarity & context.