Ambaputra at 16:59, 5 May 2026

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{{Short description|Indian Navy ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}{{italic title|string=Airavat}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
| image = The INS Airavat sails out of Visakhapatnam harbour after commissioning on May 19, 2009.jpg
| image_caption = The INS Airavat sails out of Visakhapatnam harbour after commissioning on 19 May 2009
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
| hide_header =
| country = India
| flag = {{shipboxflag|India|naval}}
| name = INS ''Airavat''<ref name=in-comm>[http://indiannavy.nic.in/pres08b.htm] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619064717/http://indiannavy.nic.in/pres08b.htm |date=19 June 2009 }}</ref>
| namesake = [[Indra]]'s [[Airavata|mount]]
| ordered =
| awarded =
| builder = [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]]
| original_cost =
| yard_number = Yard 3016<ref name=mb-airavat>{{cite web|url=http://www.marinebuzz.com/2009/05/19/indian-navy-commissions-ins-airavat-landing-ship-tank/|title=Indian Navy Commissions INS Airavat, Landing Ship Tank|publisher=MarineBuzz.com|date=19 May 2009|accessdate=21 February 2015|archive-date=21 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221232826/http://www.marinebuzz.com/2009/05/19/indian-navy-commissions-ins-airavat-landing-ship-tank/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| way_number =
| laid_down =
| launched =
| sponsor =
| christened =
| completed =
| acquired =
| commissioned = 19 May 2009
| recommissioned =
| decommissioned =
| maiden_voyage =
| in_service =
| out_of_service =
| renamed =
| reclassified =
| refit =
| struck =
| reinstated =
| homeport =
| identification = [[Pennant number]]: L24
| motto =
| nickname =
| honours =
| captured =
| fate =
| status = Active
| notes =
| badge =
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
| hide_header =
| header_caption =
| class = {{sclass|Shardul|tank landing ship}}<ref name=br-shardul>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/166-Shardul-Class.html|title=Shardul class|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|date=4 January 2007|accessdate=21 February 2015|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228164424/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/166-Shardul-Class.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| displacement = 5650 tons
| length = {{convert|125|m|abbr=on}}
| beam = {{convert|17.5|m|abbr=on}}
| height =
| draught = {{convert|4|m|abbr=on}}
| depth =
| hold_depth =
| decks =
| deck_clearance =
| ramps =
| power =
| propulsion = [[Kirloskar Group|Kirloskar]] PA6 STC engines
| speed = {{convert|16|kn|abbr=on}}
| range =
| endurance =
| boats =
| capacity = *11 MBT
*10 infantry trucks or APC
*500 troops
| troops = 500
| complement = 11 officers, 145 sailors
| crew =
| time_to_activate =
| sensors =
| EW = Chaff launchers
| armament = *2 × WM-18 rocket launchers
*4 × [[CRN 91 Naval Gun|CRN-91]] AA (Naval 30 mm Medak) guns, MANPAD's
*shoulder-launched IGLA SAMs
| armour =
| aircraft = 1 [[Westland Sea King]] or [[HAL Dhruv]]<ref name=sp-airavat>{{cite news|url=http://www.stratpost.com/images-ins-airavat-landing-ship-tank|title=INS Airavat (Landing Ship Tank)|publisher=StratPost|date=19 May 2009 |accessdate=21 February 2015}}</ref>
| aircraft_facilities =
| notes =
}}
}}

'''INS ''Airavat'' (L24)''' is the third {{sclass|Shardul|tank landing ship|1}} of the [[Indian Navy]].

==History==
INS ''Airavat'' was built by [[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]] in [[Kolkata]] at Yard 2016.<ref name=mb-airavat/> She began sea trials in July 2008 after completing basin trials in May. She was commissioned at the [[Eastern Naval Command]] in [[Visakhapatnam]] on 19 May 2009, by the [[Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Naval Staff]], Admiral [[Sureesh Mehta]]. She is named for the mount of god [[Indra]], the elephant [[Airavata]], as mentioned in the [[Rigveda]].<ref name=gs-shardul>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/l-shardul.htm|title=LST(L) Shardul|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|accessdate=21 February 2015}}</ref>

==Design==
Safety features aboard the ''Airavat'' include anti-roll flume stabilisation system, smoke curtains to impede spreading of smoke and toxic gases in case of fire, as well as battle damage control systems. Fully loaded, she can operate independently at high seas for up to 45 days.<ref name=sp-airavat/>

While primarily designed for [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious assault operations]], ''Airavat''{{'}}s missions also include humanitarian assistance & disaster relief (HADR) during natural disasters, including tsunamis, cyclones and earthquakes. She has a fully functioning hospital on board, the capacity to carry 500 soldiers, and can provide stern refuelling for other naval vessels.

Primary suppliers for her equipment are [[Bharat Electronics Limited]], [[Kirloskar Group|Kirloskar Oil Engines]], [[Larsen & Toubro]], [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]], [[Keltron]] and the [[Godrej Group]].

==Deployments==
On 11 July 2011, INS ''Airavat'' made a goodwill visit to [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]], [[Cambodia]]. Between 19 and 28 July 2011, she made courtesy calls at [[Nha Trang]] and [[Hai Phong]] in [[Vietnam]].<ref name=dna-downplay>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_indian-navy-downplays-chinese-warning-to-its-warship_1582363|title=Indian Navy downplays Chinese warning to its warship |work=Daily News & Analysis |agency=PTI|date=1 September 2011 |accessdate=21 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=tt-china-angle>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110917/jsp/nation/story_14518257.jsp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203152603/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110917/jsp/nation/story_14518257.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2013|title=China in mind, salute & port plea to Vietnam |last=Dutta |first=Sujan |work=The Telegraph|date=17 September 2011 |accessdate=21 February 2015}}</ref>

On 1 May 2016, INS ''Airavat'' arrived at Brunei to participate in the ADMM Plus (ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus) Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism(Ex MS & CT) which took place from 1–9 May 2016. During the exercise, she engaged with participating navies from Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, Japan, Russia, Australia, Republic of Korea and the United States, through professional interactions in harbor and complex operations at sea.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/admm-plus-exercise-on-maritime-security-and-counter-terrorism-at-brunei-116050100287_1.html|title=ADMM Plus Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism at Brunei|date=2 May 2016|newspaper=Business Standard|access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>

In November 2020, as part of [[Security and Growth for All in the Region|Mission Sagar-II]], INS ''Airavat'' delivered food aid to [[Sudan]], [[South Sudan]], [[Djibouti]] and [[Eritrea]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Mission Sagar|url=https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-sagar-3|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Drishti IAS|language=en}}</ref> She participated at the [[International Fleet Review 2026]] held at [[Visakhapatnam|Visakapatanam]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=IFR & MILAN 2026 |url=https://www.ifrmilan26.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260219124733/https://www.ifrmilan26.com/ |archive-date=2026-02-19 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=IFR & MILAN 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Shardul-class tank landing ship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Airavat (L24)}}
[[Category:Shardul-class tank landing ships]]
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kolkata]]

INS Airavat - Revision history

Ambaputra at 16:59, 5 May 2026