INS Prabal, an indigenously built Indian Naval missile boat, was commissioned by the Defence Secretary, Mr Yogendra Narain at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The ship, on commissioning, joined the powerful 22 Missile Vessel Squadron of the Western Naval Command.

INS Prabal is primarily a surface combat ship, meant to intercept and neutralise hostile warships, surface transports and amphibious vessels. She also has an air defence capability enhanced by modern SAMs and Rapid Fire Guns. She is equipped with the state-of-the-art sensors, communication equipment and electronic warfare aids.

While lauding the role of Mazgaon Dockyark Ltd for constructing INS Prabal, Mr Narain said that the long gestation period and high cost of indigenous ship constructions are some of the grey areas that have to be overcome. Referring to indigenisation, Mr Narain said that DRDO has been tasked with indigenous development of underwater sensors for integration with naval platforms and for carrying out oceanographic studies for naval applications. They have also been tasked with the development of underwater and associate systems as well as chemical and biological control of marine evironment. The need of the day is an increased interaction between research, production and user agency, he added.

Prabal is the second ship of this name, the first being the earlier OSA class missile boat which took part in the historic missile attack on Karachi harbour in the 1971 war. INS Prabal is commanded by Cdr Benny M Antony and has a crew of seven officers and 70 sailors.

-PIB(DW)