Dr VK Aatre, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, DRDO, inaugurated the Cavitation Tunnel - a major hydrodynamic test facility established at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.  Established at a cost of Rs 24.17 crore, this is the second of the major hydrodynamic test facilities at NSTL.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Aatre appreciated the scientists for taking up advanced research work in hydrodynamics of underwater weapons and saving precious foreign exchange. He added that the tunnel built with Russian collaboration is the first of its kind in South East Asia and should be put to optimum utilisation. It may replace the hydrodynamic testing being done earlier at Sweden, Netherlands, Germany etc.

The Cavitation Tunnel at NSTL has vertical plane, closed re-circulating, variable speed, variable pressure type features with Automatic Control System (ACS), Data Acquisition and Analysis System (DAAS) for operation, control and conducting of tests. It also has a stand alone Acoustic Measurement System (AMS) for acoustic data acquisition, analysis and extrapolation. Other features include acoustic trough, contraction nozzle, aeration and de-aeration system, fine filtering system, stainless steel shell, stroboscopy and videography system and provision for models/dynamometers mounted on large removable test section cover. The tunnel is designed for low turbulance in the test section.