View source for Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory

{{Short description|Indian government agency}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox Laboratory
|name           = Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory
|motto          = 
|logo           =
|image          = 
|established    = 1958
|city           = [[Kochi, India|Kochi]], [[Kerala]]
|research_field = 
|type           = 
|director       = Dr. Duvvuri Seshagiri
|staff          = 
|budget         = 
|operating_agency = [[DRDO]]
|affiliations   = 
|address        = Thrikkakara P.O., <br />Kochi - 682 021.
|telephone      = 
|campus         = 
|website        = [https://www.drdo.gov.in/labs-and-establishments/naval-physical-oceanographic-laboratory-npol]
|footnotes      =
}}
The '''Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory''' or '''NPOL''' is a [[laboratory]] of the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO), under the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]], [[India]]. It is situated in [[Thrikkakara]], [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]]. NPOL is responsible for the [[research and development]] of [[sonar]] systems, technologies for underwater surveillance, study of ocean environment and underwater materials.<ref name=ie27n>{{cite news|title=DRDO gets it right when it's unlike DRDO|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/drdo-gets-it-right-when-its-unlike-drdo/16843/0|access-date=8 June 2013|newspaper=Indian Express|date=27 November 2006}}</ref>

== History ==

The Indian Naval Physical Laboratory (INPL) was established in [[Kochi, India|Kochi]] by the [[Indian Navy]] in 1952. It worked initially as a field laboratory for fleet support activities. It was merged with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1958 and started working on underwater systems. INPL was rechristened as Naval Physical Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL).

Till 1990, NPOL functioned from within the Naval Base in [[Kochi]]. In 1990, it moved into a new {{convert|60|acre|m2|sing=on}} campus at [[Thrikkakkara|Thrikkakara]], a suburb of Kochi. The new campus has a main technical complex and two residential complexes - SAGAR and VARUNA. The technical complex houses the main building, Abhinavam building and several test facilities including an acoustic tank. Besides the campus in Thrikkakara, NPOL has an offsite setup of underwater acoustic research facility at [[Idukki Dam|Idukki Lake]], 100&nbsp;km east of Kochi. Since 1995, NPOL has operated [[INS Sagardhwani (A74)|INS Sagardhwani]], a 2000-ton [[Oceanography|oceanographic]] [[research vessel]] used for oceanographic data collection.

==Areas of work==
NPOL is developing a technology called seabed arrays that will be laid over the seabed surface for ocean surveillance which will provide measurements and inform the control centre about the happenings underneath through satellite. DRDO is planning a dedicated satellite for the coastal surveillance system.

All the future inductions planned by the Indian Navy are to be fitted with NPOL designed sonars. The sonars under development are HUMSA NG (upgrade of the HUMSA sonar), the submarine sonars [[USHUS (sonar)|USHUS]] (for the [[Sindhughosh-class submarine|Sindhugosh class]]) and PAYAL for the [[Arihant-class submarine|Arihant class]].<ref name=ie27n />

Underwater acoustics is another area which NPOL is looking at. The Physical Oceanographic conditions which will decide the propagation of the sound waves inside water is studied with the help of DRDO's Research Vessel [[INS Sagardhwani]] and in-house developed Ocean models. Different Sonar Range Prediction models are also developed by NPOL in the recent years which are used by Indian Navy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/13/stories/2007121355240500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215021118/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/13/stories/2007121355240500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2007|title=DRDO to develop unmanned underwater vehicles|date=13 December 2007|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2008-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/07/stories/2008020751830500.htm|title=DRDO plans satellite-based coastal surveillance system|author=M. Somasekhar|date=6 February 2008|access-date=2008-02-07|newspaper=The Hindu Business Line }}</ref>

On 29 October 2024, NPOL placed an order for a new Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) with the [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]], [[Kolkata]]. The order worth {{INRConvert|490.98|c|lk=on|year=2024}} was signed in [[Kochi]]. The ARS will have an overall length of {{Convert|90|m|ft|abbr=on}} and a beam of {{Convert|14|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It will be able to achieve speeds ranging up to {{Convert|12|kn||abbr=on}}. The ship will have a minimum endurance of 30 days or {{Convert|4500|nmi||abbr=on}}. It will have a complement of 70 personnel. The vessel will have [[diesel-electric propulsion]] and 3 [[Deck crane|deck cranes]] will be fitted on board to handle research equipment. The ARS will be able to deploy, tow, and retrieve a variety of equipment, including acoustic modules; conduct high-resolution surveys of sound velocity profiles in time and/or space; and gather data on ocean tides and currents for use in survey optimisation, underwater mooring design, and offshore deployments. Additionally, it will be able to launch, moor, and maintain independent [[sonobuoys]] as well as gather data from them. The ship will be able to conduct acoustic system experiments at various speed regimes while remaining silent due to its broad speed range. The ARS will also be equipped with a dynamic positioning mechanism that will enable it to hold its place until [[Sea state|Sea State 4]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GRSE secures Rs 491 crore contract from NPOL for Acoustic Research Vessel |url=https://www.psuconnect.in/news/grse-secures-rs-491-crore-contract-from-npol-for-acoustic-research-vessel/44966 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.psuconnect.in |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.drdo.gov.in/labs-and-establishments/naval-physical-oceanographic-laboratory-npol NPOL Home Page]
{{DRDO Laboratories}}
{{Scientific Research in Kerala |state=collapsed}}

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[[Category:Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratories]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Kochi]]
[[Category:Research and development in India]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1958]]


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