The Indian Navy received the fourth 105 m class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) INS Sumitra on 16 July, 2014.
Goa Shipyard Limited was contracted to design and build the four NOPVs in order to reinforce the country’s maritime defence.
INS Sumitra, the Indian Navy’s largest Offshore Patrol Vessel, is fitted with a large number of state-of-the-art indigenous electronic, communication and weapon systems. It will help meet the Indian Navy’s increasing requirements for undertaking ocean surveillance and surface warfare operations in order to prevent infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty.
The vessel is suitable for monitoring sea lanes of communication, defence of offshore oil installations and other critical offshore national assets. It can also be deployed for escorting high value ships and fleet support operations.
The first, second and third of the series of 105 meter class of NOPV – INS Saryu, Sunayna and Sumedha were earlier handed over to the Indian Navy by GSL in December 2012, September 2013 and January 2014 respectively.
Goa Shipyard Limited in currently working on the construction of six OPVs for the Coast Guard and expects to launch three OPVs in succession from September to December 2014. The first vessel should be ready for delivery as per schedule by October 2015, and all six vessels will be delivered by November 2017.
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