Indian Navy Commissions Third Water Jet Fast Attack Vessel

Indian Navy on Thursday commissioned a water jet fast attack craft to enhance its maritime capabilities in Indian Ocean region.

Built by the government-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), the third vessel ‘Tillanchang’ of Car Nicobar Class was commissioned on March 9 at Karwar on the western coast. The first two ships, Tamugli and Tihayu, were commissioned last year in Vishakhapatnam.

"These ships play a vital role in the light of security environment in the country and are designed to take on both conventional and asymmetric threats. Tillanchang was able to achieve the fastest speeds (more than 35 knots) among all water jet fast attack craft during speed trials," Vice Admiral Girish Luthra said.

The 50-meter-long ship is fitted with three water jet propulsion systems, powered by marine diesel engines generating 2,720 KW power. It is armed with a 30-mm main gun and a number of light, medium, heavy machine guns and a shoulder-launched IGLA surface-to-air missile to neutralize threats from the air. Tillanchang is manned by 50 personnel.