The country’s first totally indigenously designed and built torpedo launch and recovery vessel INS Astradharini was commissioned here today and inducted into the Eastern Fleet.

The 50-metre catamaran hull vessel is the first indigenously built warship of the Navy to be built in a private shipyard with machine gun mounts.

Joint designing The design of the ship was a collaborative effort of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), IIT Kharagpur and Shoft Shipyard. The catamaran hull configuration significantly reduces the power requirement of the ship capable of attaining 15 knots.

The ship has two officers and 27 sailors and can carry 13 scientists.

Congratulating those involved in building the ship, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral Satish Soni, who commissioned the ship, said the induction of INS Astradharini adds thrust to the nation’s ongoing endeavours towards indigenisation and achieving the goal of self-reliance in underwater weapons development. “Such a ship has been a long-felt need and it is a dream come true,” Vice-Admiral Soni said.

Technical trials INS Astradharini will be used to carry out technical trials of underwater weapons and systems developed by NSTL. The ship reflects the capability of our scientists and manufacturing facilities and will go a long way in the ‘Make in India’ campaign of the Government, Outstanding Scientist and Director NSTL CD Malleswar said.

The design was tested at the facilities at NSTL and this is a technologically advanced replacement for the Astravahini, Director General (NS and M) of the DRDO V Bhujanga Rao said.

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