India’s indigenously designed classified missile tracking and ocean surveillance ship (OSS) is undergoing harbour trials at Vishakhapatnam on the country’s east coast, ahead of starting sea trials by the end of the year, security sources told Jane’s.

Thereafter, the 15,000-ton vessel will be handed over to the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), India’s sole technical intelligence agency, to gather electronic intelligence (ELINT) and monitor domestic strategic missile and under-development ballistic missile defence (BMD) programs.

Accompanying NTRO personnel on board the OSS will be technicians and scientists from the government-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) responsible for India’s multiple missile programs.