Blab Tech
NSTL Workshop Charts Indian Naval Stealth Roadmap Beyond 2030
On 20–21 July 2026, the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam hosted a two‑day workshop titled "Naval Stealth—Beyond 2030," drawing more than 125 delegates from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Navy, defence shipyards and industry partners. The gathering set the stage for a coordinated push toward the next generation of stealth‑capable warships.
The event opened with a formal inauguration by R.V. Hara Prasad, Director General of Naval Systems & Materials. In the first session, Rear Admiral Sujit Baxi, Director General of the Weapons and Design Bureau (WDB), and Abraham Varghese, Outstanding Scientist and Director of NSTL, outlined the workshop’s objective: aligning research priorities with the Navy’s planned fleet expansion, which includes new stealth frigates and other platforms.
A headline outcome was the official handover of the Technology for Fabrication, Installation & Commissioning of the LM2500 Gas Turbine Infrared Suppression System (GT‑IRSS) to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The transfer follows a licensing agreement signed in April 2026 that authorises BHEL to manufacture and deploy the LM2500 GT‑IRSS on Indian Navy warships. The LM2500 gas turbine, widely used on destroyers, frigates and aircraft carriers, produces high‑temperature exhaust gases that can be detected by infrared‑guided anti‑ship missiles; the suppression system mitigates that vulnerability. According to the press release, the GT‑IRSS was designed and developed indigenously by NSTL under DRDO’s Naval R&D Directorate.
Technical sessions covered a breadth of critical domains:
Radar Cross Section (RCS) reduction techniques for hull and superstructure design. Infrared signature management, including exhaust gas cooling and masking. Acoustic stealth measures for propeller and machinery noise. Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic (ELFE) and magnetic signature control. Integrated multi‑spectral stealth concepts that combine radar, infrared, acoustic and magnetic signatures. Emerging technologies envisioned for the post‑2030 era.
Led by experts from DRDO laboratories and industry partners, the sessions emphasized translating research into operational capabilities. Participants stressed the need for coordinated development of stealth systems across the entire ship design life cycle—from concept through production and maintenance.
NSTL, a key DRDO laboratory in Visakhapatnam that specialises in underwater weapons and associated systems, is spearheading this effort. Dr. Abraham Varughese highlighted that the workshop is part of a broader initiative to strengthen India’s indigenous naval technology base. The collaboration with BHEL, a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, aims to accelerate the deployment of the GT‑IRSS across the fleet.
While the workshop did not announce specific design changes, the alignment of research priorities with the Navy’s procurement plans suggests a roadmap for integrating advanced stealth features into new platforms such as the upcoming INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri frigates. The event also underscored the importance of joint research and industry participation in achieving strategic defense objectives, with the goal of reducing development timelines and ensuring that new technologies can be manufactured at scale.
In summary, the NSTL workshop on 20–21 July 2026 marked a significant step in India’s pursuit of advanced naval stealth capabilities. The handover of the LM2500 GT‑IRSS technology to BHEL, the participation of over 125 stakeholders, and the comprehensive technical agenda all point to a coordinated effort to prepare the Indian Navy for the challenges of the post‑2030 maritime environment.
The next phase will involve implementing the technology transfer agreement, integrating the GT‑IRSS into existing vessels, and continuing the development of multi‑spectral stealth concepts in collaboration with DRDO laboratories and industry partners.
The event opened with a formal inauguration by R.V. Hara Prasad, Director General of Naval Systems & Materials. In the first session, Rear Admiral Sujit Baxi, Director General of the Weapons and Design Bureau (WDB), and Abraham Varghese, Outstanding Scientist and Director of NSTL, outlined the workshop’s objective: aligning research priorities with the Navy’s planned fleet expansion, which includes new stealth frigates and other platforms.
A headline outcome was the official handover of the Technology for Fabrication, Installation & Commissioning of the LM2500 Gas Turbine Infrared Suppression System (GT‑IRSS) to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The transfer follows a licensing agreement signed in April 2026 that authorises BHEL to manufacture and deploy the LM2500 GT‑IRSS on Indian Navy warships. The LM2500 gas turbine, widely used on destroyers, frigates and aircraft carriers, produces high‑temperature exhaust gases that can be detected by infrared‑guided anti‑ship missiles; the suppression system mitigates that vulnerability. According to the press release, the GT‑IRSS was designed and developed indigenously by NSTL under DRDO’s Naval R&D Directorate.
Technical sessions covered a breadth of critical domains:
Radar Cross Section (RCS) reduction techniques for hull and superstructure design. Infrared signature management, including exhaust gas cooling and masking. Acoustic stealth measures for propeller and machinery noise. Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic (ELFE) and magnetic signature control. Integrated multi‑spectral stealth concepts that combine radar, infrared, acoustic and magnetic signatures. Emerging technologies envisioned for the post‑2030 era.
Led by experts from DRDO laboratories and industry partners, the sessions emphasized translating research into operational capabilities. Participants stressed the need for coordinated development of stealth systems across the entire ship design life cycle—from concept through production and maintenance.
NSTL, a key DRDO laboratory in Visakhapatnam that specialises in underwater weapons and associated systems, is spearheading this effort. Dr. Abraham Varughese highlighted that the workshop is part of a broader initiative to strengthen India’s indigenous naval technology base. The collaboration with BHEL, a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, aims to accelerate the deployment of the GT‑IRSS across the fleet.
While the workshop did not announce specific design changes, the alignment of research priorities with the Navy’s procurement plans suggests a roadmap for integrating advanced stealth features into new platforms such as the upcoming INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri frigates. The event also underscored the importance of joint research and industry participation in achieving strategic defense objectives, with the goal of reducing development timelines and ensuring that new technologies can be manufactured at scale.
In summary, the NSTL workshop on 20–21 July 2026 marked a significant step in India’s pursuit of advanced naval stealth capabilities. The handover of the LM2500 GT‑IRSS technology to BHEL, the participation of over 125 stakeholders, and the comprehensive technical agenda all point to a coordinated effort to prepare the Indian Navy for the challenges of the post‑2030 maritime environment.
The next phase will involve implementing the technology transfer agreement, integrating the GT‑IRSS into existing vessels, and continuing the development of multi‑spectral stealth concepts in collaboration with DRDO laboratories and industry partners.
