The Indian Navy has commissioned a highly secretive ocean maritime surveillance vessel, designated as VC-11184, INS Dhruv, according to an Economic Times report.
With the commissioning of this ship, India joined an elite club of nations that possess deep sea missile tracking ships, including the USA, Russia, France, and China.
VC-11184 is built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited on the Vishakhapatnam coast under the direct supervision of the Indian Prime Minister Office and National Security Advisor. The construction of the vessel started in 2014, but details about the project’s role and existence were kept in secret due to the high importance of this project.
The ship’s role will involve tracking and monitoring nuclear ballistic missile movements by the enemy and will help a mid datalink station for Indian missiles to increase strike range. The ship can also track space debris and enemy assets on the ground. It’s apparent onboard sensor systems are capable of having an intercontinental range of operation, giving India an edge over its enemy in tracking and electronic warfare.
