India's first of P15-B stealth destroyers will take to the water for the first time on Monday, when the Mazgaon Docks limited (MDl) formally launches the 163 meter-long ship using the conventional “end-launching” method.
Given that in ship building the underwater hull cannot be constructed on the slipway or dry dock, the process of the hull, constructed on slip way, being put to sea for the first time is called launching. The to-be launched vessel will be christened as INS Visakhapatnam on its commissioning into the Indian Navy. The vessel will be commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2018.
To be propelled by four gas turbines, the new vessel has been designed to achieve a speed of over 30 knots at a displacement of approx 7,300 tonnes. "This indigenously designed stealth destroyer will have state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, an advance Action Information System, in Integrated Platform Management system, sophisticated Power Distribution System and a host of other advanced features," a Defence spokesperson said here on Sunday.
To be fitted with supersonic surface-to-surface missile system that enables the ship to engage shore-based and naval surface targets at long range making it a lethal platform for strike against enemy targets, the ship's air defence capability is designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles. Itwill revolve around the vertical launch and long range surface to air missile system.
"Four 30 mm rapid-fire guns will provide the ship with close-in-defence capability while an MR gun will enable her to provide effective naval gunfire support. Indigenously developed twin tube torpedo launchers and rocket launchers will add punch to the ship's anti-submarine capability. The vessel is follow-on of P15A-Kolkota class destroyers with enhanced features," the spokesperson said.
"Visakhapatnam is the result of the efforts of various departments of MDl ably guided by Warship Overseeing Team, Mumbai at all stages of her progress. Significantly the integration, supported by the advanced Vertical launch Missile System, the Multifunction Radar System and the hull mounted bow sonar is envisaged during the construction phase," the spokesperson said.
The indigenisation content in P15-B class destroyers is a notch above her illustrious predecessors in line with the Make in India policy of the Government of India. The P15-B stealth destroyers, designed by the Indian Navy's in house design organisation -- the Directorate of Naval Design, bear testimony to the Indian Navy's prowess in designing state-of-the-art naval combatants comparable to the best in the world.
The design of Project 15B destroyers once again marks the Navy's firm commitment towards achieving indigenisation by using high end technology in the field of weapons/sensors/machinery and stealth.
MDl, the country's premier warship building yard, is engaged today in producing sophisticated world class warships and submarines. "At present four destroyers and six submarines are under various stages of construction," the defence spokesperson said.