INS Androth

INS Androth

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Defence

Concept :

• The INS Androth, the second in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), was launched recently.

About INS Androth:

• It is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC).
• It is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata for the Indian Navy.
• Primary Role: To conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime operations, and mine-laying operations.
• It is also capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters and various surface platforms and coordinated ASW operations with aircraft.
• Features:
  • It is about 77.6 meters long and 10.5 meters wide and requires a draught of only 2.7 meters.
  • It is propelled by three diesel-driven water jets.
  • It can attain a maximum speed of 25 knots.
  • It carries lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets and mines, a close-in weapon system (with a 30 mm gun), and 16.7 mm stabilized remote-controlled guns.
  • It will be fitted with hull-mounted sonar and a low-frequency variable depth sonar.
• External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar announced the rollout of a technological platform in partnership with the UN — ‘UNITE Aware’ — to help enhance the safety of UN peacekeepers.
• The launch of the UNITE AWARE platform came as India assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of August.
• This project aims to demonstrate the impact of modern surveillance technology on the detection of asymmetric threats.
• Situational Awareness Software Programme: It utilises modern surveillance technology for real time threat assessments to peacekeepers in maintaining security.
• India has developed the technology platform in partnership with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Operational Support.
• Deployment: The platform will be deployed initially in four UN Peacekeeping Missions: MINUSMA (Mali), UNMISS (South Sudan), UNFICYP (Cyprus) and AMISOM (Somalia).
• India’s Contribution: India has contributed USD 1.64 million for this project.

UN Peace keeping:

Joint Effort: It is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support.

• It deploys troops and police from around the world, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to address a range of mandates set by the UN Security Council (UNSC)and the General Assembly.
• Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the Security Council.
• Financial Contribution: The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping operations are the collective responsibility of UN Member States.
• According to the UN Charter, every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share for peacekeeping.
• India’s Contribution – India is a major contributing nation to UN peacekeeping activities.
  • Currently, there are 5506 troops and police from India who have been deployed to nine different UN peacekeeping missions, the second highest amongst troop-contributing countries.
  • India has a long tradition of sending women on UN peacekeeping missions.
  • In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission.
• The top 5 providers of assessed contributions to United Nations Peacekeeping operations for 2020-2021 are:

1. United States (27.89%).
2. China (15.21%).
3. Japan (8.56%).
4. Germany (6.09%).
5. United Kingdom (5.79%).