NEW DELHI, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The Indian navy has issued a tender seeking anti-submarine bombs capable of aircraft delivery.
The contract initially pertains to munitions capable of fixed-wing aircraft delivery.
An Indian navy source close to the deliberations, speaking on condition of anonymity said: "The Defense Ministry intends to procure air-dropped underwater bombs for fixed wing aircraft (in service), to be used as an urgent attack weapon against submarines.
"The bomb should be capable of being dropped from an aircraft for engaging a submarine in deep waters as well as those on surface and periscope depths. We also are looking for bombs that could be launched from rotary wing (helicopters) platforms too.
"The bombs should have sufficient high explosive to destroy target submarine at proximity distance. The conventional warheads' shelf-life should be about 30 years," the Economic Times reported Sunday.
The navy's contract is particularly interested in munitions capable of sinking submarines in the Indian Ocean's tropical conditions with a penetration range of up to a half-mile below the surface.
