Amara Raja Design Alpha (ARDA), a specialised engineering R&D firm and part of the $2 billion Amara Raja Group, has developed an indigenous Power Conditioning Cabinet (PCC) for naval sonar systems, marking its first deliverable in mission-critical defence electronics.

About 61 per cent of the system’s components are indigenous, enabling nearly 40 per cent cost efficiencies through advanced power engineering and local manufacturing. In the next phase, ARDA will expand into the design of Power Amplifiers, Signal Interfaces and Power Amplifier Cabinets, supporting the development of a comprehensive indigenous ecosystem for naval sonar systems. This initiative contributes to India’s growing naval indigenisation efforts.

The units comply with global standards such as MIL-STD-901D and MIL-STD-461 for EMI/EMC and shock, ensuring reliability in demanding naval environments. The PCC supports loads of up to 160 kW, delivering stable, high-reliability power distribution for sonar systems, where acoustic detection equipment requires high power quality during sustained maritime operations.

The development comes as the Indian Navy’s budget has grown from Rs 496.23 billion in 2020–21 to over Rs 1035.48 billion in 2025–26, reflecting increased investment in maritime capability. Within this framework, sonar systems remain critical for underwater surveillance and anti-submarine warfare across the fleet.

“We are excited that our expertise in electronics and power system design and manufacturing can contribute directly to our nation’s defence systems,” said Dr Suresh Nair, MD, ARDA. “This development reflects our commitment to building deep, long-term capability in strategically important technologies alongside India’s defence research institutions.”

ARDA operates from Infopark, Kochi, which also houses DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), India’s premier sonar research institution. NPOL has led India’s sonar technology programme for decades, and the emergence of private-sector design capability in the same ecosystem strengthens the indigenous technology base encouraged by the government.