The Indian Navy on 1 August 2025 launched DSC A24, the fifth and final vessel under the Diving Support Craft (DSC) Project, at the shipyard of M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) in Kolkata. The launch marks the completion of a five-vessel indigenous programme designed to significantly expand the Navy's specialised underwater operational capability.

Launch Ceremony and Key Officials

The vessel was formally launched by Kamal Singh in the presence of Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Chief of Personnel. The ceremony was conducted with full naval traditions and was attended by senior officials from both the Indian Navy and TRSL. The Indian Navy's spokesperson described the event as 'yet another proud milestone for the Indian Navy' in a post on X.

Design and Technical Specifications

According to the Ministry of Defence, all five Diving Support Craft are being constructed by TRSL in accordance with the Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The vessels feature a catamaran-hull form with an approximate displacement of 300 to 400 tonnes, offering superior stability, enhanced deck space, and improved sea-keeping characteristics — attributes that make them particularly well-suited for diving operations in varied sea conditions.

The craft are equipped with state-of-the-art diving systems and have been tailor-made for conducting operational dives, the Navy said. Their design supports a range of critical missions including operational diving, underwater inspection, salvage assistance, and coastal operational deployment.

Indigenous Manufacturing at the Core

A defining feature of the DSC Project is its emphasis on domestic sourcing. The Ministry of Defence noted that nearly 70 per cent of the main and auxiliary equipment installed on the vessels has been procured from Indian manufacturers. The ministry described the craft as 'proud flag bearers of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India initiative,' reflecting the government's broader push to reduce dependence on foreign defence imports.

This comes amid a sustained effort by the Centre to shift naval procurement toward domestic shipyards. The DSC Project represents one of several concurrent programmes under which Indian private-sector yards are delivering warships and support vessels to the Navy — a model that industry bodies argue could be replicated across more complex platforms.

Strategic Significance

The induction of all five Diving Support Craft is expected to substantially strengthen the Indian Navy's ability to undertake specialised underwater missions along India's extensive coastline and in offshore zones. Diving support vessels play a critical but often understated role in fleet readiness — enabling hull inspections, mine clearance assistance, and rescue operations that larger combatants cannot perform.

With DSC A24 now launched, the five-vessel project stands complete, and attention will shift to the commissioning timeline for the remaining vessels in the series. The Navy has not yet announced a formal induction date for DSC A24.