Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally commissioned the first stealth-guided missile destroyer ship of Project 15B, INS Visakhapatnam into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Sunday (November 21). ‘Commissioning’ is an age old ceremonial tradition of formally inducting a ‘man-of-war’ into naval service.
INS Visakhapatnam has been constructed using indigenous steel DMR 249A and is amongst the largest destroyers constructed in India with an overall length of 163m and displacement of over 7,400 tons. The ship has a significant indigenous content of approximately 75 per cent contributing towards AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
Equipped with an array of weapons and sensors, which include supersonic surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, medium and short-range guns, anti-submarine rockets and advanced electronic warfare and communication suits, this ship is a potent platform capable of undertaking multifarious tasks and missions spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.
INS Visakhapatnam taking India amongst an elite group of nations
The INS is proficient to build advanced warships. Here are key features of the destroyer:
- Advance technology: Propelled with combined gas and gas propulsion, INS Visakhapatnam carries a speed of over 30 knots. The ship has the capacity of embarking two integrated helicopters to further extend its reach. It is processed with a very high level of mechanisation which includes a Combat Management System and Integrated Platform Management System.
- Mobility, reach, and flexibility: INS Visakhapatnam will enhance the Indian Navy’s powers in terms of mobility, reach, and flexibility in international waters. It will also guide the Navy with medium-range surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, torpedo tubes and launchers advancement. It is also supplied with anti-submarine rocket launchers, super rapid gun mount besides foldable hangar doors, Helo traversing system, close-in weapon system and bow-mounted SONAR.
- Making India ‘Aatmanirbhar’: According to the Ministry of Defence, Visakhapatnam will also contribute towards India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar’ mission and is a potent platform capable of undertaking multifarious tasks and missions spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.
- Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) warfare: The ship is additionally capable of handling Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) warfare scenarios and its anti-submarine warfare capabilities are powered by rocket launchers, torpedo launchers, and ASW helicopters designed in-house.
Induction in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam’s induction will be entailed by Vela, a submarine of the Kalvari Class on November 25. As per the Indian Navy, the inclusion of these in India’s military arsenal is a tribute to the fallen soldiers of the 1971 Indo-Pak war along with the freedom fighters who fought for the country’s independence.
