Indian Coast Guard commissions OPV
The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned its first of class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), ICGS Vikram, at Larsen and Toubro’s (L&T) Defence shipyard at Kattupalli, Tamilnadu, L&T announced on 11 April.
ICGS Vikram is the first of seven new generation OPVs being built by the shipyard under a contract with the Indian Ministry of Defence awarded in March 2015.
The vessel has completed harbour and sea trials prior to commissioning, and the ship’s design and construction process has been certified by the American Bureau of Shipping and the Indian Registrar of Shipping.
The OPVs are long-range surface ships, equipped to handle helicopter operations and capable of operating in Indian maritime zones including island territories. They will be used to conduct coastal and offshore patrol, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations with limited wartime roles.
The vessel is 97m in length, 15m in width, has 3.6m draught and 2,140t displacement with a range of 5000 nautical miles. It can attain sustained speeds of up to 26kt. The OPVs are built with integrated platform management system and equipped with front propulsion pods high manoeuvrability.
Construction of the remaining OPVs is ongoing; OPV-2 has been launched and is being readied for harbour and sea trials.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![France and Sweden sign defence roadmap as Naval Group positions FDI frigate for Swedish surface ship programme]()
France and Sweden sign defence roadmap as Naval Group positions FDI frigate for Swedish surface ship programme
A pact signed at the Paris Air Show has seen Sweden turn to the French FDI frigate to lead its next-gen surface combatant fleet amid shifting security dynamics in the Baltic Sea.
-
![US Navy moves quickly with uncrewed vessels and industry follows]()
US Navy moves quickly with uncrewed vessels and industry follows
The US Navy (USN) is evolving into a hybrid fleet with uncrewed systems supporting crewed vessels and companies working to provide new solutions. In the case of Ocean Aero, its Triton uncrewed surface vessel can also be used underwater.
-
![US to review AUKUS submarine partnership]()
US to review AUKUS submarine partnership
The Australia, UK and US (AUKUS) trilateral agreement consists of two pillars. The first pillar involves Australia’s procurement of nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) and the second pillar involves bring defence industry and research bases closer together through high-technology development programmes. It is the former which is under re-evaluation.
-
![South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet]()
South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet
South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.
-
![How the US Government plans to put the US Navy’s shipbuilding programmes back on track]()
How the US Government plans to put the US Navy’s shipbuilding programmes back on track
In an attempt to reduce delays in shipbuilding efforts, the US government, lawmakers and the Navy are betting big on further investments in the national defence industry and public shipyards. Reviewing and reformulating ongoing initiatives and business practices will also be form part of the effort.
