Giving yet another boost to Indian maritime strength, INS Astradharini was commissioned into the Indian Navy today, 6 October.
"The vessel will be used to carry out technical trials of underwater weapons and systems developed by naval science and technology laboratory (NSTL)" which is a wing of the naval system laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)," a press release by the defence ministry stated.
"INS Astradharini is a replacement vessel, of the erstwhile INS Astravahini. The ship was conceptualised by NSTL and built by shock shipyard private limited," according to ANI news.
INS Astravahini was commissioned on 5 November, 1984 at Vishakhapatnam, 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.
Last month, the Indian navy had also commissioned INS Kochi, the largest India made warship. In an interview with reporters last month, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said "the motto for the missile-destroyer warship is "Armed to conquer the enemy. It is as good as any foreign ship."
