Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) secured a DRDO contract from the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) on December 30, 2025, as the lowest bidder (L-1) at ₹69.15 lakh, beating Aquaarix Autonomous Systems, to co-develop India’s first Aquatic-Aerial System—a dual-domain UAV-UUV capable of seamless air-to-water transitions for ISR, ASW, and MCM missions. Key dates include technical clearance in late December 2025 and HEAUV trials validating tech in March 2025. From an Indian strategic view, this Atmanirbhar Bharat milestone equips the Navy with stealthy, NavIC-guided platforms featuring sonar, EO/IR, and SATCOM, countering IOR threats from adversaries like China and Pakistan, enabling submarine-launched hybrid ops for superior maritime autonomy and deterrence. Prototyping advances bolster self-reliance amid escalating regional tensions.