Indian Navy Gets More Immediate Support Vessels
Three more Immediate Support Vessels (ISV) will be commissioned into the Western Naval Command by early next year, taking the total strength to 17.
The latest batch of four ISVs - small and fast weaponised speedboat-like vessels - was commissioned a fortnight ago in a ceremony where Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present.
On the occasion, Fadnavis said that the ISV will enhance the capacity of the Indian Navy to provide better security.
ISVs are armed with heavy machine guns and state-of-the-art radar-navigational equipment. The induction and deployment of these ships will augment the ongoing efforts to bolster coastal security and provide protection to offshore assets from asymmetric threats.
While not primarily for coastal patrolling, the boats are used for guarding Indian assets like ONGC oil rigs off the Mumbai coast and the Naval Dockyard from sea borne threats. They however, can be redirected for coastal security if the need arises.
The boats are originally a product of the UAE-based Abu Dhabi Shipbuilders, which are now built in Mumbai by the SHM Shipcare under licence, says chief PRO (defence) Commander Rahul Sinha.
Three of the ISVs were built by ABDS while the remaining eleven were constructed in Mumbai. Three more are expected to be commissioned by early next year, Sinha said.
