The Indian Navy has commissioned its fourth Car Nicobar-class water jet fast attack craft INS Tarasa in Mumbai on September 26.
Commissioned into service by Western Naval Command chief VAdm Girish Luthra, Tarasa is joining INS Tillanchang, INS Tarmugli and INS Tihayu which were commissioned in 2016 and 2017.
The 48-meter-long fast attack craft will be used for coastal patrol and surveillance operations.
These four improved versions of the water jet fast attack craft (FO-WJFAC) are being built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE).
The Indian Navy operates ten first-generation Car Nicobar-class ships which were commissioned into the navy between 2009 and 2011.
The armament of the improved vessels consists of a 30 mm CRN 91 gun manufactured by ordnance factory Medak, two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (HMG) and multiple medium machine guns, besides shoulder-launched Igla surface-to-air missiles to combat aerial threats.
The 320-tonne vessels can achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots and are manned by a team comprising four officers and 41 sailors.