Indian Navy commissions INS Astradharini torpedo launch and recovery vessel

INS Astradharini will be sued to carry out the technical trials of underwater weapons and systems. Photo Indian Navy.

9 October 2015 naval-technology.com

The Indian Navy has commissioned its first indigenously built torpedo launch and recovery vessel, INS Astradharini, at the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam, India.

Designed by NSTL, M/s Shoft Shipyard and IIT Kharagpur, the new vessel features a catamaran hull form that minimises power consumption.

The 50m-long vessel will be capable of operating at high-sea states, cruising at a maximum speed of up to 15k.

In addition, the vessel features a large deck area with torpedo launchers for deploying and recovering several of torpedoes during the trials.

During the ceremony, vice-admiral Satish Soni said the new vessel offers additional thrust to the nation's ongoing endeavours at indigenisation and achieving the nation's goal of self-reliance in underwater weapons development.

INS Astradharini also features modern power generation and distribution, navigation and communication systems.

The vessel will be deployed to carry out the technical trials of underwater weapons and systems developed by NSTL, a naval systems laboratory of DRDO.

In addition, the vessel replaces Astravahini, which was decommissioned in July this year.

Recently, the Indian Navy commissioned its indigenously-designed new warship, INS Kochi, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

Claimed to be the largest-ever warship to be built in the country, INS Kochi is the second ship of the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) guided missile destroyers.