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June 22, 2007 23:30 IST
India on Friday joined a select group of nations operating a landing platform dock in high seas as INS Jalashwa was commissioned, providing the country's Navy the enhanced capability to move troops and equipment to greater distances.
INS Jalashwa, acquired from the US and commissioned at Norfolk in Virginia, is the first ship of its class to be inducted into the Indian Navy.
With the induction of INS Jalashwa, formerly known as USS Trenton, was commissioned by Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen, marking an important milestone in the Indo-US relationship.
INS Jalashwa will mark a quantum jump in the Navy's integral sealift and airlift capabilities as it provides a platform to influence events on land from the sea and has the ability to transport and launch large numbers of combat or relief forces complete with their equipment.
The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the acquisition on July 31 last year following which Indian Navy deputed some 330 personnel to the US in October.
Indian naval personnel sailed with their US naval counterparts on USS Trenton for training in November and December 2006.
The USS Trenton has been in active service in the US Navy and took part in the evacuation of US citizens from Lebanon in 2006 before being transferred to the Indian Navy on January 17, 2007.
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