USSR-era “INS Rajput” decommissioned

What is the News?

Indian Navy has decommissioned the INS Rajput at Naval Dockyard at Visakhapatnam after 41 years of service.

About INS Rajput:

• INS Rajput was a guided-missile destroyer and the lead ship of the Rajput class of the Indian Navy. It was built by the erstwhile USSR (now Russia).
• The missile destroyer was commissioned in the Indian Navy in 1980. It was also the first destroyer of the Indian Navy.
• Purpose: The ship is capable of attacking land targets as well as fulfilling anti-aircraft and anti-submarine roles as a task force or carrier escort.
• The destroyer ship participated in several important missions over the years including:
  • Operation Aman off the coast of Sri Lanka to assist the Indian Peace Keeping Force during Srilankan Civil War
  • Operation Pawan for patrolling duties off the coast of Sri Lanka
  • Operation Cactus to resolve hostage situation of the Maldives and
  • Operation Crowsnest off Lakshadweep.
• Moreover, the ship has also served in the several missiles trials:
  • The ship was used as a trial platform for the BrahMos cruise missile.
  • A new variant of the Prithvi-III missile was test-fired from Rajput in 2007.
  • The ship also tracked the Dhanush ballistic missile during a successful test in 2005.

Source: The Hindu