INS Astradharini joins the Indian Navy

VISAKHAPATNAM: An indigenously built torpedo launch and recovery vessel, INS Astradharini, was commissioned on Tuesday by Eastern Naval Command (ENC) flag officer commanding-in-chief, vice admiral Satish Soni, at a ceremony held at the naval base here. He unveiled the commissioning plaque and dedicated the ship to the nation.
The 50-metre-long vessel is capable of doing speeds up to 15 knots.It can operate at high seas and has a large deck area with torpedo launchers for deploying and recovering various kinds of torpedoes during trials. The ship also has modern power generation and distribution, navigation and communication systems.
According to an ENC release, the unique catamaran hull form of the ship demonstrates the country's ship design and shipbuilding capabilities. It is a matter of pride that 95% of the ship's systems are of indigenous design, demonstrating the Navy's continued adherence to the 'Make in India' philosophy, said a release issued by the Indian Navy.
"INS Astradharini will be used to carry out technical trials of underwater weapons and systems developed by NSTL, a naval systems laboratory of DRDO. It is an advanced replacement for Astravahini, which was decommissioned on July 17, 2015," the release explained.
The ship will have a crew of two officers and 27 sailors. It can accommodate 13 DRDO scientists and has the capacity to undertake multiple trials during a single sortie. The commissioning of INS Astradharini will add a powerful punch to the DRDO's R&D capabilities and will accelerate the development of underwater weapons and systems, the release added.
Addressing the gathering, the ENC chief said the induction of INS Astradharini adds thrust to the nation's ongoing endeavours at indigenisation and achieving the nation's goal of self-reliance in under water weapons development.
Distinguished scientist and DRDO director general (naval science & materials), Dr V Bhujanga Rao, Naval Science and Technological Lab (Vizag) director CD Malleswar and Shoft Shipyard CMD Sahay Raj were among the dignitaries present during the commissioning ceremony.
The INS Astradharini, which is built using indigenous steel, was a collaborative effort of NSTL, Shoft Shipyard and IIT Kharagpur and has a unique design of a catamaran hull form that significantly reduces its power requirement.
Vice Admiral Satish Soni was received on arrival at the naval jetty by commodore KA Bopanna, the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh) and was presented a guard of honour. The inaugural address was delivered by Shoft Shipyard CMD Sahay Raj, which was followed by the addresses of CD Malleswar and DRDO scientist V Bhujanga Rao. The commissioning warrant of the ship was read out by commanding officer, commander Deepak Singh Bist. Subsequently, hoisting of the naval ensign on board for the first time and breaking of the commissioning pennant marked the completion of the commissioning ceremony.