INS Beas (F37) is a Brahmaputra-class frigate of the Indian Navy. She was built at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
 INS Beas departing Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, 20 June 2009.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 India | |
| Name | INS Beas |
| Namesake | River Beas |
| Builder | Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers,  India |
| Launched | 28 November 2000 |
| Commissioned | 11 July 2005 |
| Status | Ship in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Brahmaputra-class frigate |
| Displacement | 3,850 tons |
| Length | 126.4 m (414 ft 8 in) |
| Beam | 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 steam turbines delivering 22,370 kW (30,000 shp) to two shafts |
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)+ |
| Range | 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) |
| Complement | 440 to 450 (Including 40 Officers + 13 aircrew) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
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| Aircraft carried | 1 Sea King, 1 Match Helos |
The design and construction of the ship is entirely Indian, and is a modification of the Godavari-class frigate.[1] She is fitted with an array of modern sensor suites and matching weapon systems.
Beas is named for the River Beas. She is the second ship in the Indian Navy to bear the name. The first was a Leopard-class frigate commissioned in 1960 and scrapped in 1992.
Upgrade
editOn 16 October 2023, Ministry of Defence signed a contract for the mid-life upgrade of INS Beas with Cochin Shipyard Limited. In early April 2024, the mid-life upgrade of INS Beas began making her the first ship of the Brahmaputra class to be upgraded. The upgrade included conversion of steam turbine propulsion into diesel propulsion (CODAD) and other equipment and systems upgrade. INS Beas will likely be fitted with Caterpillar marine diesel engine with 6-MW power. The overall upgrade will take 2 years for completion. The upgrade will increase the remaining service lifespan of the frigate from current 10 years to more than 25 years after completion. According to an official, “there are issues such as steam leaks and high temperatures in the boiler and engine rooms of these ships which contribute to uncomfortable working conditions for the crew.” The upgrade will reduce the maintenance requirement of the ships.[2][3] The Upgrade has commenced as of May 2024.[4]
Service history
editTask Force Europe 2009
editDuring May–July 2009, Beas was a part of the Indian Navy task force on deployment to Europe. During this deployment, the task force participated in joint-exercises with the Royal Navy and the French Navy. Exercise Konkan-09 with the Royal Navy, was conducted off the coast of the United Kingdom.[5] Exercise Varuna 2009 with the French Navy was off the coast of France.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Type 16A Brahmaputra class". Bharat rakshak page on Brahmaputra class frigate. 5 May 2007. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
- ^ "With INS Beas, Navy begins converting steam-powered warships to diesel". The Indian Express. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Ministry of Defence signs contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited for Mid Life Upgrade and Re-Powering of INS Beas". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "With INS Beas, Navy begins converting steam-powered warships to diesel". The Indian Express. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Konkan 2009". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ^ "Varuna 2009". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
