The project will position India as a strong naval power & leader in defence technology: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh, on April 03, 2026, laid the foundation stone of the state-of-the-art Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT) facility at the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a premium laboratory of DRDO in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The facility will significantly enhance India’s naval research and testing capabilities, marking a major step towards achieving technological self-reliance.

Addressing scientists, researchers, and personnel at NSTL, Raksha Mantri asserted that India, with this initiative, will be able to design, develop and test its equipment, systems & sub-systems indigenously utilising its own resources,  position itself as a strong naval power & a leader in defence technology. “Until now, even after successfully developing equipment, systems, and sub-systems, we often had to look abroad for critical testing. This situation will now change. This facility is not merely an infrastructure project, but an enabling system, which will strengthen our capabilities in advancing propulsion systems, enable focused efforts on noise reduction and further strengthen stealth capabilities. It will serve as a foundational backbone for the design and development of submarines & ships, supporting future advancements in naval engineering and maritime defence systems,” he said.

Rajnath Singh described the project as a symbol of the success of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s resolve of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He stated that the Government’s determination to make India self-reliant is intrinsically linked to the national security apparatus, and despite challenges, the country has achieved complete Aatmanirbharta in various sectors due to the concerted efforts of the domestic industry, academia, MSMEs, youth, and researchers.

During the visit, Raksha Mantri was briefed about the NSTL projects/programmes by the Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat.