Monday, July 11 2005 16:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: : Warship "INS Beas", a advanced guided missile frigate, was commissioned by the Indian Navy here today (July 11,2005) for its deployment for security operations under the Western Naval Command.

The third of the Brahmaputra class guided missle frigate was commissioned at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd and dedicated to the nation by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash here.

The warship, which followed INS Brahmaputra and INS Betwa, would be assigned to the Western Fleet and be placed under the operational and administrative control of the Western Naval Command.

''This is the last of the 12 warships which marked the commencement of warship building in India with the INS Nilgiri in 1970. The INS Beas also has the highest-ever indigenous content of any warship built in India thus far,'' Admiral Prakash said on the occasion.

The new ship was a ''multi-role reincarnation of old Beas, which had earned distinction in Naval history rendering glorious service to the force during 1960-1992,'' he said.

Built at a cost of about Rs 900 crore, INS Beas had extensive suite of long range sensors - radars, sonars and electronic warfare equipment, which enabled it to address simultaneously targets operating in the surface, underwater and air.

Speaking on the occasion, GRSE chairman and managing director, Rear Admiral T S Ganeshan said, the ship, which had 85 per cent indigenisation, could sustain speeds in excess of 30 knots (about 55 kmph) and was capable of covering over 4,500 nautical miles without replenishment.