Varunastra missile handed over to Indian navy

The Indian navy took possession of the indigenously made, anti-submarine Varunastra electric torpedo from the Ministry of Defense during a ceremony Thursday, the sea service announced.

Varunastra is the first indigenous state-of-the-art heavyweight torpedo designed by the country's Defense Research and Development Organization, or DRDO, the organization said on its Facebook page.

The missile can target submarines in deep and littoral waters.

It also features high-speed, long-endurance propulsion and can operate in various combat scenarios, DRDO said, and features more than 95 percent native content.

The navy is planning to produce 73 of the missiles.

It can be fired from Rajput-class and Delhi-class destroyers, and future anti-submarine warfare ships.

Also this week, India's Odisha TV reported that India had successfully fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile that was developed jointly with Israel.

Indian fast attack craft INS Tarasa launched
Kolkata, India (UPI) Jun 30, 2016 - The Indian navy launched its fourth Follow-on Water Jet Fast Attack Craft, the INS Tarasa, Thursday at a ceremony in Kolkata, the sea service announced.

The ceremony was held at the facilities of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd., a navy release said.

The Water Jet Fast Attack Craft aims to transform Indian naval littoral operations by combining speed and agility in the 160-foot vessel, Garden Reach said.

The ships feature improved stealth, networking capabilities and can intercept fast-moving surface craft in anti-smuggling operations, fishery protection and search and rescue.

The ships feature a maximum speed of 35 knots.

Garden Reach has delivered 95 ships thus far to the Indian navy, the service said.

Vice Admiral Jaywant Korde commended the company for meeting the navy's growing requirement for warships and praised the company for helping meet the "Make in India" national initiative.