30 Nov 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 17
2. ASW Shallow Water Craft (CSL) Project
3. MAHASAGAR

1. Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 17

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile

Context:

The third Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 17 (Yard 127) has been delivered to the Indian Navy.

Details:

• In this barge, all major and auxiliary equipment/systems have been sourced from indigenous manufacturers.
• The availability of ACTCM Barges will provide impetus to the operational commitments of the Navy by facilitating the embarkation and disembarkation of articles/ammunition to Navy ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.

2. ASW Shallow Water Craft (CSL) Project

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: ASW Shallow Water Craft (CSL) Project

Context:

Three ships built under the ASW SWC Project have been launched.

Details:

• The contract for building eight ASW Shallow Water Craft (SWC) ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
• The first three ships of the eight were launched at Kochi. The three ships are Mahe, Malvan and Mangrol.
• The Mahe class ASW Shallow Water Crafts have been named after ports of strategic importance along the coast of India.
• These ships will be equipped with indigenously developed, state-of-the-art underwater sensors, and are envisaged to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters as well as Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations.
• The ASW SWC ships are 78 m long and displacement is approx 900 tons, with a maximum speed of 25 knots.
• All the ships will have over 80% indigenous content, making a significant achievement in ‘Make in India’.

3. MAHASAGAR

Syllabus: GS-2, IR; GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: MAHASAGAR

Mains: Maritime security, SAGAR Vision

Context:

The maiden edition of the high-level virtual interaction MAHASAGAR was hosted by the Indian Navy.

MAHASAGAR:

• MAHASAGAR is the Indian Navy’s outreach initiative for a high-level virtual interaction between Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region. The word MAHASAGAR means ‘vast ocean’.
• It is the Indian Navy’s outreach initiative between Maritime Heads.
• During this meeting, the Chief of the Naval Staff interacted with Heads of Navies/Maritime Agencies and Senior Leadership from IOR littorals, viz., Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. 
• The theme of the interaction was ‘Collective Maritime Approach towards Countering Common Challenges’, which highlights the present and necessary imperative for harmonising and collaborating capacities and capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• This is in consonance with the SAGAR Vision of the GOI.

Read the previous PIB articles here.