The Indian Navy has commissioned its first domestically built diving support craft, strengthening underwater operational capabilities while advancing local shipbuilding.
DSC A20, the first of five Diving Support Craft under construction, was built by Titagarh Rail System Limited under a contract signed with India’s Ministry of Defence in February 2021.
Designed in accordance with Indian Register of Shipping classification rules, DSC A20 features a catamaran hull with a displacement of approximately 390 tons.
The vessel is equipped with modern diving systems intended to support underwater repairs, hull inspections, harbor clearance operations, and specialized diving missions in coastal waters.
Development of the craft included hydrodynamic analysis and model testing conducted at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory in Visakhapatnam.
According to the navy, the platform is expected to play a key role in sustaining fleet readiness by supporting maintenance and emergency response tasks below the waterline.
India’s Growing Domestic Naval Defense Portfolio
DSC A20 joins a steadily growing lineup of naval platforms and systems developed and manufactured domestically over the past few years.
In 2022, the Indian Navy commissioned INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited and equipped with locally developed aviation and combat support systems.
Surface combatant production has also expanded. The navy has inducted multiple Project 15B Visakhapatnam-class guided-missile destroyers since 2021, all built in India and integrated with indigenous sensors and weapons, including advanced radar systems and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
In parallel, Project 17A frigates, such as INS Nilgiri, feature modular construction methods and Indian-developed combat management systems.
