Context: Destroyer INS Rajput, built by the erstwhile USSR, was decommissioned at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam after 41 years of service.

About INS Rajput:

• The Kashin-class destroyer, built by the erstwhile USSR, was commissioned on May 4, 1980.
• It has participated in several important Naval operations over the years.
• Some of these include Operation Aman off Sri Lanka to assist the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), Operation Pawan for patrolling duties off the coast of Sri Lanka, Operation Cactus to resolve hostage situation off the Maldives and Operation Crowsnest off Lakshadweep.
• The ship was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment, the Rajput Regiment.
• INS Rajput was also the first ship in the Navy to get the first version of the BrahMos antiship supersonic cruise missile in 2005.
• The Rajput class was followed by the Delhi class of destroyers, the first indigenously designed and built destroyers and inducted into service in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
• This was followed by three Kolkata class destroyers built under Project 15 and the under construction Vishakhapatnam class of stealth destroyers under Project 15B.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ins-rajput-decommissioned-after-41-years/article34616154.ece?homepage=true

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