Indian Navy Welcomes New LST Vessel
The Indian Navy added another asset to its littoral warfare fleet with the May 19 commissioning of its sixth India-built landing ship tank, the INS Airavat, in Kolkata. The ship was handed over by the builders, state-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, on March 30.
INS Airavat is the third ship of the Shardul class Landing Ship Tank and is the 132nd ship commissioned by the Indian Navy
The ship, designed for amphibious operations, will be able to carry 10 main battle tanks, 11 combat trucks and 500 troops, according to a Defence Ministry release. “With a significantly enhanced weapon package, latest control systems and better habitability conditions, Airavat delivers considerable punch and amphibious capabilities to the fighting prowess of the Indian Navy,” the release states.
INS Airavat will be a potent assault platform that can carry the Sea King helicopter and the Indian-made Dhruv advanced light helicopter. Airavat “is fitted with two indigenous rocket launchers to support successful amphibious operations,” the Defence Ministry statement said. “The threat from the air is dealt with through two anti-aircraft guns auto-controlled by optronic sights and shoulder-launched IGLA surface to-air missiles.”
Built at a cost of about $100 million, INS Airavat can operate at sea for 45 days and can also be used as a fleet tanker or for humanitarian and disaster relief missions.
India’s naval doctrine of 2004 directed the Navy to prepare for littoral warfare. The Navy plans to spend billions of dollars on sea- and shore-based assets to meet that goal.
India bought its sole landing platform deck, the INS Jalashwa – formerly the USS Trenton – from the United States in 2007. The 7,700-kilometer-range ship can carry 900 troops, six tanks, 2,000 tons of stores, four landing craft and six helicopters.
Comments
Leave a Reply
