Navy gets back INS Sindhukirti

Indian Navy planners heaved a sigh of relief on Friday at the return of frontline Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhukirti, which had been missing from the operational fleet through a nine-year overhaul at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam. AJAI SHUKLA reports

Indian Navy planners heaved a sigh of relief on Friday at the return of a frontline Kilo-class submarine, INS Sindhukirti, which has been missing from the operational fleet through a nine-year “refit” (overhaul) in Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam (HSL).

The HSL chief, Rear Admiral (Retired) Nikunj Mishra, confirmed to Business Standard that INS Sindhukirti sailed out from the shipyard at 10:20 am on Thursday and returned to harbour safely on Friday.

“The crew noted no defects, only some minor observations that will be addressed,” said Mishra. INS Sindhukirti’s refit took so long that many defence experts believed the vessel would never return to operational service. After another of the Navy's eight Kilo-class submarines, INS Sindhurakshak, sank in an unexplained explosion on August 14, 2013, the Sindhukirti's absence was felt even more keenly.

With its return the Navy will have 11 operational submarines. Besides seven Kiloclass submarines of the socalled Sindhughosh-class; there are also four HDW submarines, referred to as the Shishumar-class.