India to handover fast attack craft INS Tillanchang to Maldives

In a landmark event the Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee will hand over a fast attack craft, INS Tillanchang, to Maldives on Sunday (April 16). The Minister will be on a two-day visit to Maldives from April 15 at the invitation of Mr Ismail Shafeeu, Maldives Minister of Defence and National Security.

During his visit the Defence Minister will have extensive talks with Mr Ismail Shafeeu and Foreign Minister of Maldives Dr. Ahmed Shaheed on bilateral cooperation and regional security issues. The Defence Minister will also call on President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Named after one of the islands of the Andaman and Nicobar chain, the INS Tillanchang, built by Defence Public Sector Undertaking, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata was inducted into the Indian Navy five years ago.

The 260 tonne Trinkat class fast attack craft INS Tillanchang is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation aids, communication and GMDSS Systems, which facilitate her role-worthiness and effectiveness in operational missions, air operations, safe navigation and survival at sea. The main armament is the indigenous 30 mm gun, manufactured by Ordnance factory Medak.

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