Riserteam at 16:55, 10 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian Navy strategic support ship}}
{{distinguish|text=[[HAL Dhruv]], a helicopter manufactured by [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited|HAL]] or with the mooring vessel [[INS Dhruvak]]}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
| image = INS_Dhruv_at_sea.jpg
| image_caption = INS ''Dhruv''
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
| hide_header =
| country = [[India]]
| flag = {{shipboxflag|India|naval}}
| name = ''Dhruv''
| namesake =
| ordered =
| builder = [[Hindustan Shipyard Limited]]
| operator = Jointly operated by [[Indian Navy]]
[[National Technical Research Organisation]]
[[Defence Research and Development Organisation]]
| laid_down = 30 June 2014
| launched =
| acquired = 31 October 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hslvizag.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/AnnualReports/69AR_2020-21_E.pdf|quote-page=9|title=Annual Report 2020-21|publisher=Hindustan Shipyard Limited|date=2021-12-27}}</ref>
| commissioned = 10 September 2021
| decommissioned =
| in_service =
| out_of_service =
| struck =
| reinstated =
| honours =
| fate =
| original_cost = {{INRConvert|1500|c|year=2021|lk=on}} (FY 2020)
| status = In Service
| identification = [[Pennant number]]: A40
| notes =
| badge =
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
| hide_header =
| header_caption =
| class =
| type = [[Ocean Surveillance Ship|Ocean surveillance]] and [[Tracking ship|missile tracking ship]]
| displacement = {{cvt|15000|t|LT}} <ref name="ETMarch21"/>
| length = {{cvt|175|m|ftin}}
| beam = {{cvt|22|m|ftin}}
| draught = {{cvt|6|m|ftin}}
| draft =
| propulsion = *2 × diesel engines in [[CODAD]], {{cvt|9000|kW}} each
*3 × auxiliary generators {{cvt|1200|kW}} each
*15 MW power
| speed = {{cvt|21|kn}}
| range =
| complement = 300
| sensors = * X-Band AESA radar
* S-Band AESA radar
| EW =
| armament =
| armour =
| armor =
| aircraft = *1 × helicopter
| aircraft_facilities =
| notes =
}}
}}

'''INS ''Dhruv''''' ('''A40''') is a [[research vessel]] and [[Tracking ship|missile range instrumentation]] ship built by [[India]]'s [[Hindustan Shipyard|Hindustan Shipyard Limited]] (HSL). The ship was earlier only known by its shipyard designated yard number as VC-11184.<ref>{{Cite web|title=VC 11184 — Indian Navy's First Ocean Surveillance Ship|url=https://www.indrastra.com/2018/07/VC11184-004-07-2018-0037.html|access-date=2021-03-27|website=www.indrastra.com}}</ref>

The ship can gather [[Signals intelligence|electronic intelligence]] and will be used to track missile and satellites to aid [[Strategic Forces Command|India's strategic weapons]] and [[Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme|anti-ballistic missiles]]. It will be jointly operated by [[National Technical Research Organisation]] (NTRO), [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) and the [[Indian Navy]]. The development span of ships has remained largely secretive with little information in public domain. The ship reportedly started sea trials in early 2019,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Patnaik|first=Santosh|date=2018-09-11|title=India's first missile tracking ship is readying for sea trials|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indias-first-missile-tracking-ship-is-readying-for-sea-trials/article24929012.ece|access-date=2021-03-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and entered service in October 2020 without a public commissioning ceremony.<ref name="ETMarch21"/> The ship was officially commissioned on 10 September 2021 at Visakhapatnam in the presence of senior officials from the Indian Navy, the DRDO and the NTRO.<ref>{{cite web |title=INS Dhruv: India gets its first nuclear missile tracking ship today. Details here |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ins-dhruv-india-gets-its-first-nuclear-missile-tracking-ship-today-details-here-101631233967587.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=10 October 2021 |language=en |date=10 September 2021}}</ref>
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== Development ==
The purpose of the ship is to support the development of [[Strategic Forces Command|India's strategic weapons]] and the [[Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme]]. The ship can also track strategic missiles and satellites.<ref name="HT_Dhruv"/> In addition, it can also gather electronic intelligence. The keel of the ship was laid on 30 June 2014 at [[Hindustan Shipyard|Hindustan Shipyard Limited]].<ref name="dc-21dec14">{{cite news|last=Ray|first=Kalyan|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/449081/mystery-ship-project-gets-rs.html|title=Mystery ship project gets Rs 725 crore from Centre|work=Deccan Herald|date=21 December 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706103901/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/449081/mystery-ship-project-gets-rs.html|archivedate=6 July 2016}}</ref> It is being built under a classified and confidential programme which is directly under the control of the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]] and the [[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]], similar to the [[Advanced Technology Vessel]] (ATV) programme of the Indian Navy.<ref name="jdw-23nov17"/><ref name="dc-21dec14"/> The ship started harbour trials in July 2018 and was expected to undergo sea trials by the end of 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bedi |first1=Rahul |title=India's ocean surveillance ship starts harbour trials |url=https://www.janes.com/article/82048/india-s-ocean-surveillance-ship-starts-harbour-trials |work=Jane's Navy International |date=27 July 2018 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727201453/https://www.janes.com/article/82048/india-s-ocean-surveillance-ship-starts-harbour-trials |archivedate=27 July 2018}}</ref> {{as of|March 2019}}, sea trials were ongoing.<ref name="hindu-seatrials">{{cite news |last1=Patnaik |first1=Santosh |title=Sea trials of ocean surveillance ship evoke good response |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/sea-trials-of-ocean-surveillance-ship-evoke-good-response/article26562547.ece |date=18 March 2019 |newspaper= The Hindu}}</ref> The ship was delivered to the [[Indian Navy]] in October 2020 quietly<ref name="ETMarch21">{{Cite news|last=Puby|first=Manu|date=2021-03-16|title=India commissions secretive nuclear missile tracking vessel|language=en-IN|newspaper=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-commissions-secretive-n-missile-tracking-vessel/articleshow/81517925.cms|access-date=2021-03-16|issn=}}</ref> meanwhile official induction expected on first half of 2021.<ref name="HT_Dhruv">{{cite news |title=INS Dhruv that can track satellites, strategic missiles, to join navy soon |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ballistic-missile-tracking-ins-dhruv-to-join-india-s-strategic-assets-in-2021-101615886801327.html |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=16 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== Design and description ==
The ship cost around {{INRConvert|1500|c|lk=on|year=2014}} and has been designed in India by Vik Sandvik Design India.<ref name="dc-21dec14"/> It has a displacement of more than 10,000 tonnes, length of 175 metre, beam of 22 metre, draught of 6 metre and can attain a speed of 21 knots. It is powered by two imported 9,000 kilowatt combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration engines and three 1200 kilowatt auxiliary generators.<ref name="jdw-23nov17">{{cite news|last=Bedi|first=Rahul|url=http://www.janes.com/article/75908/india-to-commission-ocean-surveillance-ship-in-2018|title=India to commission ocean surveillance ship in 2018|work=IHS Jane's Defence Weekly|date=23 November 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206205338/http://www.janes.com/article/75908/india-to-commission-ocean-surveillance-ship-in-2018|archivedate=6 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="dc-21dec14"/>

The ship will be fitted with a primary X band and a secondary S band [[active electronically scanned array]] (AESA) radar. In addition, it has a long open deck with ample space for installing multiple missile tracking antennas. It will have a crew complement of 300 personnel and will carry a single helicopter.<ref name="jdw-23nov17"/> The ship will also have a special team from [[National Technical Research Organisation]] on board.<ref name="toi-21nov17">{{cite news|last1=Mehta|last2=Rathod|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/indias-most-advanced-missile-tracking-warship-to-be-handed-to-navy-in-2018/articleshow/61734788.cms|title=India's most advanced missile-tracking warship to be handed to Navy in 2018|work=The Times of India|date=21 November 2017|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206161958/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/indias-most-advanced-missile-tracking-warship-to-be-handed-to-navy-in-2018/articleshow/61734788.cms|archivedate=6 December 2017}}</ref>

== Commissioning ==
The ship was commissioned by [[National Security Advisor (India)|NSA]] [[Ajit Doval]] on 10 September 2021 in [[Visakhapatnam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-ist-nuke-missile-tracking-ship-dhruv-to-be-launched-on-sept-10-101630647404445.html|title=India's Ist N-missile tracking ship Dhruv to be launched on Sept 10|publisher=Hindustan Times|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=2021-09-03}}</ref> The ship will be jointly operated by [[National Technical Research Organisation]] (NTRO), [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) and the [[Indian Navy]].<ref name="HT_Dhruv"/>

INS Dhruv will be under [[Strategic Forces Command]] (SFC) and based in [[Eastern Naval Command]] of Indian Navy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=R Sagar|first=Pradip|date=11 September 2021|title=Explained: India's Ballistic Missile Defence programme, developed by DRDO|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/09/11/explained-indias-ballistic-missile-defence-programme-developed-by-drdo.html|access-date=2021-09-11|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref>

== Service ==
INS ''Dhruv'' had its first mission deployment to support Mission Divyastra, the planned test on an [[Agni-V]] missile with [[Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle|MIRV]] technologies. It successfully tracked the test flight on March 11 2024. The project directors will examine the trajectory and other variables of the missile as recorded by the Indian ballistic missile tracker INS ''Dhruv'' to make any operational changes if required.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=India notches MIRV tech success in Agni-V firing, Pak failed 3 years ago |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-notches-mirv-tech-success-in-agni-v-firing-pak-failed-3-years-ago-101710215090461.html |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[INS Anvesh|INS ''Anvesh'']] - another missile range instrumentation ship
* [[List of active Indian Navy ships]]
* [[Future of the Indian Navy]]
* [[Naval ranks and insignia of India|Ranks of the Indian Navy]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://indiannavy.nic.in/ Official website of the Indian Navy]

{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dhruv}}
[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in India]]
[[Category:2014 ships]]
[[Category:Missile range instrumentation ships]]

INS Dhruv - Revision history

Riserteam at 16:55, 10 February 2026