Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA): A road less travelled and fathomed
Commodore (IN) N Anil Jose Joseph VSM I.N Retd
Retired senior officer of the Indian Navy
Key Highlights
- Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) is an aspect of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) that is focused on the underwater sector and actually includes a wide range of interests and not just the Military.
- Monitoring the earth’s undersea geo-physical activities provide vital clues and helps minimise the impact of natural disasters and as a result the wellbeing of mankind.
- The physical aspect of the littoral waters of the IOR is highlighted by the fact that sonar performance is sub optimal and as a result complicates effective UDA.
- Undersea areas in the IOR offer vast reserves of minerals and food in multiple forms and therefore have seen an increasing number of stakeholders emerging.
- Political instability, technological challenges and economic limitations are the major impediment for progress in the IOR.
It is said ‘the eye does not see what the mind does not know’ and DH Lawrence famously said, ‘‘What the eye does not see and the mind does not know, does not exist. The field of Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) comes largely in that category but for a few dedicated who aim to bring forth this awareness. And these dedicated UDA experts are bringing forth the wide prospects in the Underwater World, driven by the fact that ‘The heart feels what the eyes cannot see and knows what the mind cannot understand.’ This field is yet not only a road less travelled but also fathomed or understood.
To answer what is UDA, simply put Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) is an aspect of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) that is focused on the underwater sector and actually includes a wide range of interests and not just the Military. In more specific terms UDA is the desire to know what is happening in the undersea parts of maritime areas.
Full Article Content
Sign in to read the complete article.
Commodore (IN) N Anil Jose Joseph VSM I.N Retd
Retired senior officer of the Indian Navy
Commodore (IN) Neriamparampil Anil Jose Joseph (Retd) is an alumnus of RIMC and NDA. An ASW specialist, he is a graduate of the prestigious DSSC, Wellington, AWC, Mhow and NDC, Delhi. In his 35 plus years of service, he has held various Staff, Instructional, Operational and Command appointments. Ashore appointments include Div O at NDA, Instructor in ASW School, DD in DSR, NA to CINCAN & CINC East, duties at HQENC for the conduct of the first ever PFR at Vizag, first ever CSO to COMINKAR, as also Dir WSOI in HQ IDS. The officer has commanded IN Ships Vibhuti, Shardul (commissioning) and Ranjit. An all-rounder and known as a valuable mentor he has also been K22 / CO Agnibahu, FOO Eastern Fleet, Cmde Work Up / CSO to FOST, Director MWC Kochi and Commanding Officer Venduruthy; superannuating on 31 oct 2021. The officer is MSC Def studies, a double MPhil, a Qualified Interviewing Officer, and MA Psychology. The officer was awarded VSM in Jan 2014. He is an avid reader and a good sportsman. He can be contacted at najjoseph@yahoo.com