New Delhi: In keeping with “Look East” policy and strengthening strategic ties with countries of the region, India has delivered the first batch of Shyena advanced lightweight torpedoes to Myanmar. The 2.75 metre long torpedo has been developed and manufactured indigenously by DRDO.

The two nations had signed a deal worth $37.9 million in 2017 for the supply of these Shyena torpedoes.

These torpedoes have been developed and manufactured by the DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) respectively. Several warships of the Indian Navy are already armed with these lightweight torpedoes.

The torpedo is an electrically propelled, self-homing underwater weapon and can be launched from a submarine, surface warship, helicopter and an aircraft.

The torpedo weighing 220 kg has a warhead of 50 kg. It is primarily an anti-submarine weapon with a maximum range of seven kilometres. Its maximum operational depth is 540 m and the top speed is 33 knots with an endurance of six minutes in both shallow and deep waters. Shyena — inducted into the Indian Navy on March 3, 2012 — uses passive and active acoustic homing for guidance.

India has been strengthening its defence ties with Myanmar and other Asian countries as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Act East Policy” that focuses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region.

The objective of “Act East Policy” is to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationship with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.