India’s 1st N-missile tracking ship Dhruv to be launched on Sept 10

What is the news?

National Security Advisor is expected to commission India’s first satellite and ballistic missile tracking ship Dhruv from Visakhapatnam on September 10.

Introduction

Dhruv is built by Hindustan Shipyard in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).

What are some key features of INS Dhruv?

Mapping: It has the capability to also map ocean beds for research and detection of enemy submarines.

Enhanced surveillance capabilities: INS Dhruv is equipped with DRDO developed state-of-the-art active scanned array radar or AESA. It has the ability to scan various spectrums to monitor spy satellites watching over India, as well as monitor missile tests in the entire region.

Surveillance: The ship will be a vital key to maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific and is being commissioned at the time when the era of underwater armed and surveillance drones have dawned.

Real time warning system: It will act as an early warning system for enemy missiles headed towards Indian cities and military establishments.

Control: The nuclear missile tracking ship will be manned by Indian Navy personnel with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).

Why is Dhruv significant?

Strategic significance: Both China and Pakistan having nuclear ballistic missile capability and land disputes with India.

Counter China: China has moved to sea-based military doctrine with huge investments in long-range aircraft carriers, warships and submarines. Dhruv will help India’s electronic intelligence-gathering spy agency, the NTRO, to project threat to India in real-time.

Maritime defence: It will act as a major force multiplier to India’s maritime security architecture as well as add to the capability to understand the true missile capability of the adversary when they test their ballistic missiles.

India joins Premier League of Nations: The 10,000-tonne ship will be at the heart of India’s future anti-ballistic missile capability. Such ships are operated by France, the US, the UK, Russia, and China only.

Net security provider: It will add to the Indian Navy’s capability to monitor the region from the Gulf of Aden to the ingress routes to the South China Sea via Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, Ombai and Wetar straits.

Mapping ocean floor: It will help in mapping the Indian Ocean bed to help the Indian Navy plan better military operations in all three dimensions—sub-surface, surface and aerial.

Source: This post is based on the article “India’s 1st N-missile tracking ship Dhruv to be launched on Sept 10” published in Hindustan Times on 4th September 2021.