INS Dhruv
INS Dhruv (A40) is a research vessel and missile range instrumentation ship built by India's Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). The ship was earlier only known by its shipyard designated yard number as VC-11184.
INS Dhruv | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| India | |
| Name | Dhruv |
| Operator | Jointly operated by Indian Navy
National Technical Research Organisation Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Builder | Hindustan Shipyard Limited |
| Cost | ₹1,500 crore |
| Laid down | 30 June 2014 |
| Acquired | 31 October 2020 |
| Commissioned | 10 September 2021 |
| Identification | Pennant number: A40 |
| Status | In Service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ocean surveillance and missile tracking ship |
| Displacement | 15,000 t (15,000 long tons) |
| Length | 175 m (574 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 22 m (72 ft 2 in) |
| Draught | 6 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Complement | 300 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 × helicopter |
The ship can gather electronic intelligence and will be used to track missile and satellites to aid India's strategic weapons and anti-ballistic missiles. It will be jointly operated by National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy. The development span of ships has remained largely secretive with little information in public domain. The ship had reportedly started sea trials in early 2019, and had entered service in October 2020 without a public commissioning ceremony. The ship was officially commissioned on 10 September 2021 at Visakhapatnam in the presence of senior officials from the Indian Navy, the DRDO and the NTRO.