- The Indian Navy has recently announced a collaboration with Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited for the development of armed autonomous boat swarms as part of the “SPRINT” initiative.
- Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July of last year, SPRINT (Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence) aims to promote the development and usage of indigenous defense technologies by domestic companies.
- The task of developing this technology is one of the 75 challenges introduced by the Indian Navy under the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations.
About SPRINT Scheme:-
- ‘SPRINT’ Scheme is an initiative to promote the development of niche defense technologies by domestic companies.
- The task of developing this technology is one of the 75 challenges that have been introduced by the Indian Navy under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav last year.
- To achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defense, Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), in conjunction with the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), aims to induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products into the Indian Navy till august 2023.
- This collaborative project is named SPRINT {Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), NIIO, and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC)}.
- It was launched by Prime Minister in July 2022.
- It will transform the Navy from a ‘Buyer’s Navy’ to a ‘Builder’s Navy.