New Delhi: The first of two Advanced Frigates under construction by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the Indian Navy, was launched on July 23, 2024 at GSL, Goa. In keeping with maritime tradition, the ship was launched by Rita Sreedharan, to the invocation from Atharva Veda, in the presence of P S Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa.
The ship has been named ‘Triput’, after the mighty arrow, representing the indomitable spirit of Indian Navy and its ability to strike far and deep.
The ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff and Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, Chairman and Managing Director of GSL along with officials from the Ministry of Defence, Senior Flag Officials of Indian Navy and employees of GSL.
The contract for building two Triput class Advanced Frigates was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Goa Shipyard Limited on January 25, 2019. The construction of these ships is based on Indian navy’s specific requirements to meet the entire spectrum of Naval Warfare in all three dimensions.
The ship is designed for combat operations against enemy surface ships, submarines and aircraft. The Triput class ships are 125 m long and 15 m wide, with a displacement is approx. 3600 tons and speed a maximum of 28 knots. The ships are equipped with stealth features, advanced weapon & sensors and platform management systems.
Being constructed at GSL, the Triput class of ships are follow on ships of the Teg and Talwar class ships acquired from Russia. These frigates are being constructed for the first time indigenously by an Indian Shipyard. Since plate cutting ceremony of the ship on September 20, 2020 and keel laying on January 29, 2021, the Shipyard has made exceptional strides. This import substitute is a hallmark of indigenisation incorporating multiple complex and advanced indigenous technology and systems. The hull of these Class of vessels is being made from indigenous steel, which is a specialised low carbon micro alloy grade steel.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Governor of Goa appreciated the efforts put in by Ministry of Defence, Indian Navy and industry in ensuring that all ship-building requirements of Indian Navy are fulfilled indigenously. Further, congratulating employees of GSL on achieving this critical milestone overcoming all odds, he exhorted all present to ensure that the march towards ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in Defence Production is pursued in the right earnest to meet the targets.
The ship is being fitted with an integrated platform and bridge management system and a host of other advanced features. The ship’s air defence capability, designed to counter enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missile will revolve around vertical launch long range surface to air missile system. Further, the ship has been fitted with indigenous power generation and distribution system, AC, steering system and stabilisers designed and developed by private industry.
In line with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, a large percentage of the equipment fit, including weapons & sensors is of indigenous origin, thereby ensuring that large scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units, generating employment and capability enhancement within the country.
As an exemplary testimony of our nation’s Warship building capability, the launch of Triput propels Goa Shipyard Limited into the league of Indian Shipyards capable of producing state-of-art Frigates for Indian Navy.
