Indian Navy commissioned INS Tarmugli, a Fast Attack Craft (FAC), under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command, at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on December 14, 2023.

The ship, a Trinkat Class FAC boasts of a remarkable history and began its service as INS Tillanchang. Operating actively until 2006, as part of India’s diplomatic outreach in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the ship was gifted to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and assumed the name MCGS Huravee. From April 16, 2006, until its decommissioning in May 2023, MCGS Huravee served under the MNDF flag. Upon its return to the Indian Navy, the ship underwent an extensive six-month refurbishment and upgrade at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.

Fitted with MTU engines, the latest communication equipment, a 30 mm gun and an advanced Radar system, the warship will be extensively used for coastal surveillance and protection of ODAs (Offshore Development Area) in the KG Basin area along the East Coast of India.

The 46-metre ship, named after a picturesque island in the Andaman group, displaces 320-tonne and can achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots. INS Tarmugli is tailored for tasks such as intercepting swift surface vessels, executing Anti-Smuggling operations, ensuring Fishery Protection, and conducting Search & Rescue Operations.

‘Mahe, Malvan and Mangrol’ SWC Launched

Mahe, Malvan and Mangrol, the first three ships of 08 x ASW Shallow Water Craft (CSL) project being built by CSL, Kochi for the Indian Navy, were launched on November 30, 2023 at CSL, Kochi.

The Mahe class ASW Shallow Water Crafts have been named after ports of strategic importance along the coast of India, and will look to carry forward the glorious legacy of the erstwhile minesweepers which were their namesake.

The contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Limited on April 30, 2019. The Mahe class of ships will be equipped with indigenously developed, state-of-the-art underwater sensors, and are envisaged to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters as well as Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations.

The ASW SWC ships are 78 m long and displacement is approx 900 tons, with a maximum speed of 25 knots.

The first ship of the project is planned to be delivered in 2024. The ASW SWC ships will have over 80% indigenous content, thereby ensuring that large scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units, generating employment and capability enhancement within the country.

Third Missile Cum Ammunition Barge Delivered

The Indian Navy, on 22 November, took delivery of the third ‘Missile Cum Ammunition Barge, LSAM 9 (Yard 77)’, built by MSME Shipyard, SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, for INS Tunir.

The contract for building 08 x Missile Cum Ammunition Barge was signed between MoD and SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam on February 19, 2021. Induction of these Barges would provide impetus to operational commitments of Indian Navy by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles and ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.

These Barges are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulations of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The model testing of the Barge during design stage was undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.

Proposals to Acquire C-295 Transport Aircraft

The Indian Coast Guard and the Navy are looking forward to acquire 15 C-295 transport aircraft that are being manufactured in India in a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus. The proposals for the acquisition of these 15 aircraft – nine planes would be procured by the Navy and six would be taken by the Indian Coast Guard are at an advanced stage in the defence ministry.

The C-295 transport aircraft would be equipped with the required radars and sensors and turned into a maritime patrol plane by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS).

Recently, the first C-295 transport aircraft manufactured in Spain was inducted by the Indian Air Force. While the first 16 will come from Spain in fly-away condition, the remaining 40 will be produced in India at a Tata facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.

If approved by the government, the order from the Navy and Coast Guard will take the Tata Airbus order book to 71 from the existing 56. Some of the operators of the plane are using the C-295 transport aircraft in maritime patrol roles.

Long Range Cruise Missile-Scalp for Rafale-M

After France offered local production of submarine-launched Naval Scalp missiles, for the three additional Scorpene submarines that the Indian Navy is buying from France, negotiations are underway between the Indian Navy and MBDA, Scalp missile manufacturer, for acquisition of these missiles as part of the weapons package for 26 Rafale-Ms.

In October, India submitted a letter of request (LoR) to French government to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter for INS Vikrant.

These missiles will give the navy a significant capability boost compared to the Mig-29K, KH-31 combination. Scalp missiles have a strike range of more than 300 kilometres. Scalp missiles are stealth long-range fire and forget missiles which carries a warhead of 450 kg, that can destroy heavily defended, high-value enemy targets like command and control centres, ammunition depots, petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) dumps and bunkers.

The submarine-launched variant has a strike range of close to 1,000 kilometres. Scalp missiles have also demonstrated their effectiveness in various wars, with the most recent being the Ukraine-Russia war, where the French supplied missiles were successfully able to destroy a ship and a submarine docked at a naval station and Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters.

Bought with the thirty-six Rafale fighters acquired in 2016, the Indian Air Force (IAF) already operates Scalp missiles. While the IAF Rafales can carry two Scalp missiles, its naval variant, the Rafale-M, can carry only one Scalp missile.

The post Indian Navy Adds Assets appeared first on IMR.

A wide range of niche technologies are being inducted to enhance long range precision attack capabilities. Loitering munitions in land and sea-based versions are being inducted to enhance the targeting capabilities. Additionally, containerised missile systems are being inducted to enhance the operational capability and to augment flexibility in operations.

The Navy has transformed from a ‘Buyers Navy’ into a ‘Builders Navy’, with aircraft carrier, destroyers, stealth frigates, corvettes, submarines and other war vessels being constructed in our country. Today, of the 66 ships under construction 64 are being built in India. Further, approvals have been given for 24 ships and submarines that are all planned to be constructed in Indian Shipyards. At present, IN has achieved approximately 90% indigenisation in the float segment, 60% in the move segment, and 50% in the fight segment. Indian Navy is committed to becoming a fully Aatmanirbhar Navy by 2047.

A number of ships and submarines have been commissioned in 2023.

INS Vagir, fifth Submarine of Kalvari class, was commissioned on January 23, 2023.

INS Tarmugli returned by the Govt of Maldives was re-commissioned after refit on December 14, 2023.

INS Imphal, the third stealth ship of Project-15B was commissioned on 26 December 2023.

Sandhayak (Yard 3025), the first of the four Survey Vessel (Large) ships was delivered to Indian Navy by GRSE on December 4, 2023.

The third GRSE ship of Project P17A Frigates, Vindhyagiri (Yard 3024), was launched on Aug 17, 2023 at GRSE.

The fourth ship of Survey Vessel Large, i.e. Sanshodhak (Yard 3028) was launched on June 13, 2023 at L&T Shipyard.

Two ASW Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) namely Androth (Yard 3035) and Anjadip (Yard 3030) were launched on March 21 and June 13, 2023 respectively at GRSE.

Three more ASW SWC namely Mahe (Yard 523), Malvan (Yard 524) and Magrol (Yard 525) were concurrently launched on November 30, 2023 at CSL, Kochi.

The last of the seven P17A ships, i.e. Mahendragiri (Yard 12654) was launched on September 1, 2023 at MDL, Mumbai.

1st Diving Support Craft A-20 (Yard-325) was launched on August 31, 2023 at Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd, Kolkata.

INS Vikrant completed Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) on May 31, 2023. With the IOC, the ship has proven the Aviation Facilities Complex, achieved day and night landing of MiG-29K, completed landing trials of all helicopters in the Naval inventory.

Atmanirbharta in Defence is having a profound affect on the operational efficiency of the Indian Navy. During 2023 alone, a number of approvals were given by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). These included:

Medium-Range Anti-Ship Missiles for surface platforms in November 2023.

Next Generation Survey Vessels and avionic upgradation of Dornier aircraft in September 2023.

26 Rafale-Marine aircraft along with associated ancillary equipment, weapons, simulator, spares, documentation, crew training and logistic support in July 2023.

15 MQ-9B Sea Guardian High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAs) in June 2023.

Ship-launched BrahMos missiles and Utility Helicopters-Maritime in March 2023

Brahmos Launcher and Fire Control System for the Shivalik class of ships and Next Generation Missile Vessels in January 2023.

The Ministry of Defence signed contracts with a number of companies to strengthen the capabilities of the Indian Navy. Among them were:

13 Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

Three Cadet Training Ships from Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T).

11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and six Next Generation Missile Vessels from different Indian shipyards.

Five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) from Hindustan Shipyard Limited.

16 Upgraded Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) anti-missile/anti-aircraft point defence weapon system from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

Medium Refit with Life Certification of Sub-Surface Killer Class of Submarine ‘INS Shankush’ with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders.

The post EDITORIAL – A Stronger Navy Emerging Through Atmanirbharta appeared first on IMR.