Guided-missile destroyer Visakhapatnam to be inducted into Navy today
Highlight
- Rajnath Singh to formally induct INS Visakhapatnam into the Indian Navy today
- ‘Visakhapatnam’ is equipped with lethal weapons and sensors and advanced electronic warfare
- This is a project 15B of Rs 35,000 crore. the first stealth guided-missile destroyer
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will today formally induct INS Visakhapatnam into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. INS Visakhapatnam is the first stealth-guided missile destroyer of Project 15B.
The Defense Minister will be the guest of honour, while Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh will be the chief guest of the event.
‘Visakhapatnam’ is equipped with lethal weapons and sensors including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, medium and short-range guns, anti-submarine rockets and advanced electronic warfare and communications suits.
He added that the ship has the capability to launch two integrated helicopters and boasts of a high level of automation with sophisticated digital networks, combat management systems and integrated platform management systems.
It is the first stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Rs 35,000-crore Project 15B under which a total of four warships are being built. The next ship is to be commissioned in 2023 while the other two are planned to be inducted by 2025.
The warship has been designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, an internal organization of the Indian Navy, and built by Mazagon Dock Limited. The length of this majestic ship is 163 meters, width 17 meters and displacement of 7,400 tons.
“It can be considered as one of the most powerful warships ever built in India,” an official said.
Powered by four powerful gas turbines, the ship is capable of achieving speeds of over 30 knots.
It is equipped with an advanced surveillance radar that provides target data to the ship’s artillery weapon systems, the official said.
The ship’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities are provided by indigenously developed rocket launchers, torpedo launchers and anti-submarine warfare helicopters.
The ship is also equipped to fight in the event of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare, the official said.
“The commissioning of Visakhapatnam will confirm India’s presence among an elite group of nations with the capability to design and build advanced warships,” Vice Admiral Satish Namdev Ghormade said on Tuesday.
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