INS Sindhudhvaj

• 20 Jul 2022

Why in News?

Recently, the Indian Navy decommissioned its Kilo class Submarine, INS Sindhudhvaj from its service at Vishakapatnam after 35 years of service.

• With its decommissioned Navy has left with only 15 conventional submarines in service.

What are the Key Highlights about INS Sindhudhvaj?

• About:
  • It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in June 1987.
  • It was one of the 10 Kilo-class submarines, India acquired from Russia between 1986 and 2000.
  • It had many firsts to her credit including operationalization of the indigenized sonar USHUS, Indigenised Satellite Communication systems Rukmani and MSS, Inertial Navigation System, and Indigenised Torpedo Fire Control System.
  • It also successfully undertook mating and personnel transfer with Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel.
  • It was the only submarine awarded the CNS Rolling trophy for Innovation by the Prime Minister.

What is the Present scenario?

• With its decommissioning Navy’s sub-surface fleet now includes seven Russian Kilo-class submarines, four German HDW submarines, four French Scorpene submarines, and the indigenous nuclear ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant.
• Further, the last two of the Scorpene class submarines are in various stages of trials and outfitting.
• There are efforts being implemented like the construction of six advanced submarines under Project-75I but it has been delayed.
  • Project-75I envisages the indigenous construction of submarines equipped with the state-of-the-art Air Independent Propulsion system at an estimated cost of Rs. 43,000 crores.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)

1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: B

EXP:

• The ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral States of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• It provides a forum to increase maritime security cooperation, and promote friendly relationships among the member nations.
• The inaugural IONS-2008 was held in New Delhi, India in Feburary, 2008. The Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy was designated as the Chairman of IONS for the period 2008-10. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Source: TH