Indian Navy

After 41 years of serving for the Indian Navy, the first destroyer in the Navy, INS Rajput will be decommissioned at the Vishakhapatnam Naval Dockyard on May 21. Commissioned in 1980, the first vessel of Kashin-class destroyers was constructed in Ukraine. The decommissioning ceremony will be low-key due to the pandemic and will be attended by in-house sailors and officers. Notably, the vessel served both eastern and western fleets.

Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya reported a minor fire on board on May 8 morning. While no major damages to the vessel and personnel were reported, the Navy has ordered for probe into the incident. Reportedly, the duty staff noticed 'smoke emanating from a part of the warship' and quickly extinguished the fire ensuring safety. The modified warship bought from India is currently at Karnataka's Karwar harbour.

The Indian Navy has initiated the Samudra Setu-II operation to facilitate faster overseas transportation of liquid oxygen and other medical gear to aid India's COVID struggle. Reportedly, Indian Naval warships, including INS Kolkata, INS Airavat and INS Jalashwa have been sent offshore for the task. Meanwhile, INS Talwar will be bringing  40 metric tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) from Bahrain to Mumbai soon.

The Indian Navy on April 23 issued a Request for Information to foreign vendors and authorised leasing firms to lease 24 choppers. Seeking a five-year lease, the deal includes performance-based logistics support along with training of air and maintenance crew. Affirming on twin engine five-tonne chopper, the deal seeks choppers for search-rescue operations and medical evacuation at sea. The Centre has kept a deadline of June 18 for reply.

Following a patrolling operation on the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy seized narcotic substances worth Rs 3000 crore from a fishing vessel on April 19. The INS Suvarna escorted the boat loaded with 300 kg narcotics along with crew to Kochi for investigation. Calling it a major catch in terms of quantity and cost, the Navy expressed concerns towards syndicate's involvement in "terrorism, radicalisation and criminal activities"