INS Astradharini commissioned into Indian Navy; to carry out technical trials of underwater weapons & systems

NEW DELHI: Giving yet another boost to India's maritime strength, INS Astradharini gets commissioned into the Indian Navy today.

"The vessel will be used to carry out technical trials of underwater weapons and systems developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a Naval Systems laboratory of DRDO," a Defence Ministry press release said.

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Astradharini is a replacement vessel of the erstwhile Astravahini. The ship was conceptualised by NSTL and built by M/s Shoft Shipyard Pvt Ltd.

' INS Astravahini', an indigenously built Torpedo launch and recovery vessel (TLRV), was recently decommissioned after almost 31 years in service on July 16, 2015.

Astravahini, an auxiliary vessel of TLRV class, the ship was commissioned on November 5, 1984 at Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of Eastern Naval Command. The only one of its class, the ship was extensively used by NSTL as a test platform to launch and recover experimental torpedoes prior to their induction into the Navy.

(With inputs from PTI)