Navy to commission INS Sumitra on September 4

CHENNAI: Giving further teeth to its surveillance and maritime capability on country's eastern seaboard, Indian Navy will commission its Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Sumitra on September 4.

The vessel will be commissioned by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral RK Dhowan on Thursday, a Defence release here said.

"The induction of INS Sumitra in the Eastern Naval Command and her basing at Chennai will enhance the offshore surveillance and maritime patrolling capability on India's eastern seaboard in addition to giving a fillip to anti-piracy operations actively being undertaken by the Indian Navy," it said.

Built by Goa Shipyard Ltd, INS Sumitra will have a displacement of about 2,200 tonnes. It measures about 105 metres in length and 13 metres at the beam, it said.

The ship is propelled by two SEMT Pielstick diesel engines, the 'largest' of its type to be inducted in the Indian Navy, enabling it to achieve a maximum speed of 25 knots and an endurance of about 6,000 nautical miles, the release said.

"The ship's impressive weapon and sensor outfit includes a Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) 76.2 mm gun with an electro-optic fire control system, two 30 mm guns as Close In Weapon Systems (CIWS), Kavach chaff launchers for self-protection and a state-of-art Electronic Warfare Suite comprising Sanket Mk III Electronic Support Measure (ESM) system and ELK 7036 Communication Intelligence (COMINT) system," it said.

The ship is also designed to operate one Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).

Manned by eight officers and 105 sailors, INS Sumitra will operate under the Eastern Naval Command under the operational control of the Naval Officer-in-Charge, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, it said.