INS Astradharani commissioned in Visakhapatnam

Indian Navy introduced its first indigenously-designed and built torpedo and recovery vessel INS Astradharani. It was commissioned by Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Satish Soni in Visakhapatnam.

• It is a succeedor of INS Astravahini with technological advancements like power generation, distribution, navigation and communication systems.
• INS Astravahini was decommissioned in July, 2015.

BUILDERS
Its distinctive design has been formulated by the collective attainment of three organisations.

• Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of DRDO
• IIT Kharagpur
• Shoft Shipyard

FEATURES

• It will be used to carry out the technical trials of underwater weapons and systems like torpedoes and mines.
• Its unique feature is Catamaran Hull design i.e. it consists of two parallel hulls (twin hulled).
• It has a large deck area and can operate at high sea states.
• The ship has a complement of two officers, 27 sailors and 13 scientists.

This ship indicates the potential of Indian scientists and manufacturing facilities and becomes the part of “Make in India” campaign of Government.

FACTS

• INS Kochi commissioned in Mumbai in September 2015.
• INS Vajrakosh commissioned in Karwar, Karnataka in September 2015.
• INS Vikrant was undocked in June 2015
• INS Viraat will be decommissioned in 2016
• Ezhimala Naval Academy in Kerala is the largest in Asia.
• There are only two naval aerobatic teams in the world – one is Sagar Pawan of the Indian Navy and other Blue Angels of the US Navy.
• MARCOS or Marine Commandos are the special force of Indian Navy – “the few, the fearless”
• A total of four ships of the Project 15B class will be built beginning with INS Visakhapatnam (Biggest destroyer of Indian Navy) that will be commissioned in 2018 followed by INS Paradip in 2020 and INS Marmagoa in 2022, fourth one is due in 2024.
• INS Sardar Patel is Indian Navy’s latest naval establishment which was commissioned at Porbandar, Gujarat in May 2015.