Indian Navy’s first totally indigenously-designed and built torpedo launch and recovery vessel INS Astradharani was commissioned here on Tuesday.
The 50-metre twin-hulled warship is also the first to be built at a private yard with armament fixtures. The unique design of the ship was a collaborative effort of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, IIT Kharagpur and Shoft Shipyard. The catamaran hull configuration significantly reduces its power requirement.
Congratulating everyone involved in the building of the ship Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Satish Soni, who commissioned the ship, said that the induction of INS Astradharani adds thrust to the Nation’s ongoing endeavours towards indigenisation and achieving the nation’s goal of self reliance in underwater weapons development. After commissioning, the ship entered the Eastern Fleet.
“Such a ship has been a long-felt need and it is a dream come true,” Vice Admiral Soni said.
INS Astradharani will be used to carryout the technical trials of underwater weapons and systems developed by the city-based NSTL. It is an advanced replacement for Astravahini which was decommissioned on July 17 this year.
The ship has a complement of two officers and 27 sailors and can carry 13 scientists.
The ship reflects the capability of our scientists and manufacturing facilities and would go a long way in the `Make in India' campaign of the Government, Outstanding Scientist and Director NSTL C.D. Malleswar said.
The design was tested at the facilities at the NSTL and this is a technologically advanced replacement for the Astravahini, Director General (NS and M) of the DRDO V Bhujanga Rao said.
Commissioning warrant of the ship was read out by Commanding Officer Commander Deepak Singh Bist.
Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh) Commodore K. A. Bopanna, CMD of Shoft Shipyard Sahay Raj, flag officers, commanding officers and a number of officers of the Indian Navy and scientists from the NSTL were present.
