INS Dhruv

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VC11184.png
History
India
NameDhruv
OperatorJointly operated by Indian Navy

National Technical Research Organisation

Defence Research and Development Organisation
BuilderHindustan Shipyard Limited
Cost₹1,500 crore
Laid down30 June 2014
CommissionedOctober 2020 (Suspected) H1 2021 (Planned) (Official)
StatusIn Service
General characteristics
TypeOcean surveillance and missile tracking ship
Displacement15,000 t (15,000 long tons; 17,000 short tons) [1]
Length175 m (574 ft)
Beam22 m (72 ft)
Draught6 m (20 ft)
Propulsion
  • 2 × diesel engines in CODAD, 9,000 kW (12,000 hp) each
  • 3 × auxiliary generators 1,200 kW (1,600 hp) each
  • 15 MW power
Speed21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Complement300
Sensors and
processing systems
  • X-Band AESA Radar
  • S-Band AESA Radar
Aircraft carried1 × helicopter

INS Dhruv is a research vessel and missile range instrumentation ship built by India's Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). The ship was earlier only known by it's shipyard designated yard number as VC-11184.[2]

The ship can gather electronic intelligence and will be used to track missile and satellites to aid India's strategic weapons and anti-ballistic missiles. It will be jointly operated by National Technical Research Organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Navy. The development span of ships has remained largely secretive with little information in public domain. The ship had reportedly started sea trials in early 2019[3] and had entered service in October 2020 without a public commissioning ceremony[1] while official sources suggest that ship is yet to be inducted. Similar ships have been in operation by China, France, Russia and United States.

Development[]

The purpose of the ship is to support the development of India's strategic weapons and the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme. The ship can also track strategic missiles and satellites.[4] In addition, it can also gather electronic intelligence. The keel of the ship was laid on 30 June 2014 at Hindustan Shipyard Limited.[5] It is being built under a confidential programme which is directly under the control of the Prime Minister's Office and the National Security Advisor, similar to the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme of the Indian Navy.[6][5] The ship started harbour trials in July 2018 and was expected to undergo sea trials by the end of 2018.[7] As of March 2019, sea trials were ongoing.[8] The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy in October 2020 quietly[1] meanwhile official induction expected on first half of 2021.[4]

Design and description[]

The ship cost around ₹1,500 crore (equivalent to ₹19 billion or US$270 million in 2019) and has been designed in India by Vik Sandvik Design India.[5] It has a displacement of more than 10,000 tonnes, length of 175 metre, beam of 22 metre, draught of 6 metre and can attain a speed of 21 knots. It is powered by two imported 9,000 kilowatt combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration engines and three 1200 kilowatt auxiliary generators.[6][5]

The ship will be fitted with a primary X band and a secondary S band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. In addition, it has a long open deck with ample space for installing multiple missile tracking antennas. It will have a crew complement of 300 personnel and will carry a single helicopter.[6] The ship will also have a special team from National Technical Research Organisation on board.[9]

Commissioning[]

It was reported that VC11184 was secretly commissioned into the service of the Indian Navy in October 2020[1] while other reports suggested the official induction was scheduled for first-half of 2021. The ship will be jointly operated by National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy.[4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Puby, Manu (16 March 2021). "India commissions secretive nuclear missile tracking vessel". The Economic Times. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  2. ^ "VC 11184 — Indian Navy's First Ocean Surveillance Ship". www.indrastra.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. ^ Patnaik, Santosh (11 September 2018). "India's first missile tracking ship is readying for sea trials". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "INS Dhruv that can track satellites, strategic missiles, to join navy soon". Hindustan Times. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Ray, Kalyan (21 December 2014). "Mystery ship project gets Rs 725 crore from Centre". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bedi, Rahul (23 November 2017). "India to commission ocean surveillance ship in 2018". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017.
  7. ^ Bedi, Rahul (27 July 2018). "India's ocean surveillance ship starts harbour trials". Jane's Navy International. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018.
  8. ^ Patnaik, Santosh (18 March 2019). "Sea trials of ocean surveillance ship evoke good response". The Hindu.
  9. ^ Mehta; Rathod (21 November 2017). "India's most advanced missile-tracking warship to be handed to Navy in 2018". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017.

External links[]

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