INS Anvesh (also known as DRDO Technology Demonstration Vessel (TDV)) is being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) at its shipyard located in Kochi, Kerala. The ship was designed by Vik-Sandwick Design India Pvt Ltd. ("VSDI").
The sea trials of India's first floating missile test range INS Anvesh, are scheduled to begin soon, with the ship expected to be commissioned in the next two months. Built by the Cochin Shipyard and designed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the approximately 9000-tonne ship will be used to test missiles up to a range of 1500 km into the Indian Ocean without any fear of population or maritime traffic as well.
India is expected to commission at least four ships this year, with the ballistic missile tracking ship INS Dhruv being handed over to the National Research Technical Organization (NTRO) on September 10. The fourth ship class of the stealth guided-missile destroyer (SGMD) INS Visakhapatnam and the diesel attack submarine INS Vela, Kalvari, will also be commissioned by the end of this year.
Missile projects will gain momentum
Once commissioned, FTR INS Anvesh will accelerate future missile projects as it will provide a ready security corridor to ships and aircraft flying in the area without going through the exercise of issuing NOTAMs. While the DRDO missile test site at Wheeler Island in Odisha is under the scanner of opponents. The FTR will also allow judicious testing of missiles and torpedoes at sea ranges of 400 to 500 nautical miles.
Only a select group of nations conduct FTR. DRDO has specific plans to use the ship equipped with electro-optical missile tracking, S-band radar tracking, telemetry equipment besides launch pads, control, and mission control centers for testing. The second phase of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) is envisaged to allow a live test of interceptor missiles and destroy enemy missiles up to a range of 5000 km by kinetic force with FTR and not a computer simulation.
The FTR will also allow live missile and torpedo firing by the Navy as well as surface-to-surface tactical missiles with the Indian Army.
Development
The technology demonstration vessel was contracted by DRDO to Cochin Shipyard Limited in August 2015. The vessel measures 118.4 m in length, 20 m in width, and 7.1 m in the draft and weighs about 3900 tonnes.
The original contract for the construction of the vessel was signed with Bharti Shipyard, but the contract lapsed due to overtime due to the poor finances of the yard. Subsequently, Cochin Shipyard won the bid to execute the project.
The steel plate cutting of the vessel was commenced on 10 August 2016. Dr. S. Christopher, Chairman, DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defense Research & Development, commissioned the Mega Block Assembly of the ship's hull blocks (Ship No. 20) on 27 January 2016. CSL
The formal program for commissioning of Mega Block Assembly of Hull Blocks of Ship No. 20, Technology Demonstration Vessel being built for Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Government of India was held on 27 January 2017 at CSL. Dr. S Christopher, Chairman, DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defense Research and Development, honored the chief guest of the function. Madhu S Nair, Chairman, and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited welcomed the Chief Guest and the dignitaries. Dr. Subhash Chandra Sati, DG (NS&M), Dr. (Ms.) J Manjula, DG (ECS), Mr. U Raja Babu, Program Director (PGAD), Dr. Y. Srinivasa Rao, Project Director (PGAD), and others were present at the function. participated. Senior Scientist, DRDO. Mr. Paul Ranjan, Director (Finance), Mr. Sunny Thomas, Director (Technical), and Mr. NV Suresh Babu, Director (Operations), senior officers, and employees of CSL also attended the function.
The ship will start the sea route in September 2021 and will be commissioned by the end of 2021. DRDO has specific plans to use the vessel equipped with electro-optical missile tracking, S-band radar tracking, telemetry equipment. In addition to the launch pad, control and mission control center for testing its stage of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) interceptor missiles.