Navy's largest patrolling vessel INS Sumitra commissioned

Aimed at enhancing the Navy’s coastal surveillance, its largest offshore patrol vessel INS Sumitra was formally commissioned by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan on Thursday.

The vessel is the fourth in its class and built on in-house design of state-owned Goa Shipyard Ltd.

INS Sumitra, which was commissioned at the Chennai Port Trust, would be based at Chennai under the operational control of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

The ship, which has a displacement of 2,200 tonnes and can travel a speed of up to 26 knots, is equipped with state-of-the art medium and short range weapons which include 76mm medium range gun, a potent Close-In Weapon System, Electronic Support System Sanket Mk III and Communication Intelligence System ELK 7036.

The ship is a well-balanced weapon-sensor platform, with the capability to undertake offshore patrolling, support high value assets and defence of offshore installations.

The latest generation warship will join the Eastern Naval Command fleet for maritime surveillance and coastal security. Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Commanding Officer, Commander Milind Mokashi, were present.

As part of formal commissioning of the ship, a Rashtriya Salute was performed and the Naval Ensign and the Indian flag was hoisted onboard for the first time. A commemorative plaque was also launched by Dhowan and Soni on the occasion.

The first, second and third of the series of 105 metre class of NOPV - INS Saryu, Sunayna and Sumedha were earlier handed over to the Navy by GSL.