In a boost for India’s maritime prowess, a stealth warship for the Indian Navy and an offshore patrol vessel for the Indian Coast Guard were launched in separate events on Monday.
Project 17A frigate
The first Project 17A stealth frigate for the Navy built at Kolkata's Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers was launched on Monday.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat oversaw the launch of the vessel as chief guest. Rawat asserted Indian forces will leave no stone unturned to safeguard the country's frontiers. Rawat said that the stealth frigate, to be named 'Himgiri', will provide a major boost to the Indian Navy's defence preparedness.
The Project 17A ships are 149 metres long, with displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes and a speed of 28 knots. These stealth frigates are being built deploying the latest integrated construction methodology with enhanced pre-outfitting to augment quality and reduce build periods considerably. Once in service, the Project 17A ships will carry long-range anti-ship and air defence missiles as well as anti-submarine weapons. Four Project 17A ships are being built in Mumbai and three in Kolkata.
The Himgiri, the first ship built in Kolkata, is expected to be delivered in 2023 and the two other ships in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Coast Guard vessel
The fifth and final vessel of the indigenous project for offshore patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard was launched in the presence of Coast Guard Director General G.K. Natarajan at Goa Shipyard Limited on Monday. The vessel will be named ICGS ‘Saksham’.
also read
- Indian Navy submarine collides with a fishing vessel off Goa coast, two fishermen missing
- Symbol of unshakable friendship with Russia, says Indian Navy as Russian submarine docks at Kochi
- Did Indian Navy quietly launch its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine?
- In a major leap for India's defence system, Navy, DRDO successfully tests VL-SRSA missile system
- Coast Guard chopper crash: Two bodies recovered from Arabian Sea; one still missing
The indigenous offshore patrol vessel project was launched by the prime minister on November 13, 2016. Since then, two vessels have been commissioned and all five have been launched. The Saksham and its sister ships were designed entirely by Goa Shipyard Limited.
A Coast Guard press release said, “… these OPVs will form a formidable part of the Coast Guard Fleet and [be] used for protection of exclusive economic zone of territorial water of the nation. These vessels will be fitted with most modern and technologically advanced machinery and computerised controls systems, making them the most advanced patrol vessels in service with the Indian Coast Guard on delivery. These 2,400 tonne vessels will be equipped with features like quick response boats for rescue and anti-piracy, gunnery simulators and many more advanced features. The hull would be the most efficient form designed by GSL and would provide for fuel efficiency, crew comfort and excellent sea-keeping qualities.”
The Saksham is due to for delivery by October 2021.
(With inputs from PTI)
