Bharat’s Efforts Towards Swadeshi: Indian Navy Launches Fifth Combat Support Ship

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 27th Jan.  The Indian Navy has launched its fifth combat support ship, known as the Barge. This ship is equipped with missiles, torpedoes, and ammunition, providing valuable assistance to the Navy in loading and unloading ammunition at ports.

On January 24, 2024, the Indian Navy proudly launched its fifth barge, which is equipped with missiles, torpedoes, and ammunition. This barge is a strong supporter of the Defense Ministry’s Made in Bharat campaign, as it has been constructed using indigenous systems and equipment. Last year, the Indian Navy received the third barge out of the eleven vessels being built for them. These barges are being constructed at the shipyard Surya Dipta Projects Private Limited (SPPL) in Thane, Mumbai. This shipyard is an MSME that adheres to the Bharatiya government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Indian Navy received the third ammo torpedo missile barge (Yard 127) of this project on November 30, 2023.

https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1750114975887319549?s=20

Under the Ministry of Defence’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, the barge is a combat support vessel equipped with all major and supporting systems that were purchased from domestic manufacturers. During the design stage, the barge’s model was tested at the Naval Science and Technology Laboratory in Visakhapatnam.

The Defense Ministry claims that these barges were designed and built in Bharat in accordance with the Indian Shipping Register’s regulations and naval rules. In Mumbai, the fifth barge in the “Ammunition cum Torpedo cum Missile Barge” project (Yard 129) was launched. Two barges have been successfully delivered by the shipyard thus far. Commodore V Praveen led the launching ceremony.

On March 5, 2021, the Ministry of Defense and SPPL inked a contract for the production of 11 ACTCM barges. By making it easier to load and unload supplies and munitions onto Indian Naval ships at wharves and remote ports, the availability of ACTCM barges will support IN’s operational obligations.