The Indian Navy has equipped INS Jalashwa (L41) Austin-class amphibious transport dock with indigenously developed combat systems. The warship has also received the Bharat Electronics Revathi radar in place of the legacy SPS-40 air search, locally developed Kavach naval decoy launchers, and Indian-made electro-optical (EO) fire control directors for its AK-630M gun mounts. The ship’s Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS) turrets, which were included during its transfer from the US, have been removed.
The Indian Navy took possession of the ship on 17 January 2007 in Norfolk, Virginia . She then underwent a refit at the Norfolk Naval Base until May 2007. INS Jalashwa has undergone two refits. A short one, limited by financial constraints, helped the ship attain higher speeds. The second refit in 2012 was longer, and her radars and sensors were replaced with indigenous equipment. This reduced the navy’s dependence on US-origin components, as it was uncomfortable with the US inspection regime.
INS Jalashwa (Hippopotamus) is an amphibious transport dock currently in service with the Indian Navy. Formerly USS Trenton, she, along with six Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King helicopters were procured from the United States by India for a total of US$90 million in 2005. She was commissioned on 22 June 2007. INS Jalashwa is the only Indian naval ship to be acquired from the United States. She is based in Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command.
