New Delhi: The Indian Navy will receive its second MH 60R helicopter squadron, INAS 335 (Ospreys), on December 17. The commissioning of the helicopter will take place at INS Hansa in Goa in the presence of Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi. An official statement said that this occasion will be a significant moment in the Indian Navy’s continuous efforts towards modernization and capability enhancement.
The statement added that the helicopter, equipped with advanced weapons, sensors, and avionics systems, proves to be a versatile and capable asset for the Indian Navy, providing enhanced capabilities to address both conventional and asymmetric threats. This helicopter has already been fully integrated into naval operations and has proven its utility on several occasions. The commissioning of this squadron will significantly boost the Indian Navy’s overall aviation capabilities. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is also set to commission the first of its indigenously designed and built Diving Support Craft (DSC), DSC A20, under the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on December 16 (Tuesday). The ship will be formally inducted into service in the presence of Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Southern Naval Command).
According to the Navy, this event will add a crucial operational asset to the Navy’s inventory, enhancing its diving and underwater support capabilities. DSC A20 is the lead ship of a series of five Diving Support Craft being built by M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) of Kolkata.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, “Specifically designed for diving and various underwater missions in coastal waters, the vessel is equipped with advanced and state-of-the-art diving systems that meet high standards of safety and operational efficiency.” This vessel, with its catamaran hull form, offers enhanced stability, a larger deck area, and superior seakeeping characteristics, and has a displacement of approximately 390 tons.
The DSC has been designed and constructed in accordance with the naval rules and regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). Extensive hydrodynamic analysis and model testing of the DSC A20 were conducted at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
