In a significant step towards enhancing India’s naval capabilities, the Department of Defence (R&D) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art facility called the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE) at the Underwater Acoustic Research Facility in Kulamavu, Idukki, Kerala. This cutting-edge facility, set up by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO, is designed to serve as a premier testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems destined for the Indian Navy, a critical component of the country’s maritime defense strategy.